BLUFFTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – The University of South Carolina Beaufort men's basketball team returned home for its conference opener and secured its first league victory of the season. The Sand Sharks (7–3, 1–2) used a dominant defensive start, holding Augusta (6-6, 2-1) without a basket for the first seven minutes, to jump out to a 15–1 lead and led the whole way to an 80–60 win.
USCB had four players finish in double figures, led by Evan Kilminster and Lukas Platauna with 14 points each. Kilminster recorded a double-double with a team-high 10 rebounds and added five assists. Dominic Eason scored 11 points, and Nolan Paladugu also reached double digits. In total, eight Sand Sharks found the scoring column.
Paladugu opened the scoring with a three-pointer off an assist from Eason following a forced turnover, sparking a 12–0 run led by five points apiece from Paladugu and Kilminster. The Sand Sharks forced four turnovers during the stretch. After a free throw by Augusta, a Hudson Norton three stretched the lead to 15–1. The Jaguars didn't record their first made field goal until the 12:12 mark after being held without one for more than seven minutes.
USCB continued to build its advantage, highlighted by a dunk and a jumper from Lewis to push the lead to 23–7. The Sand Sharks held a 26–11 lead with five minutes remaining before Augusta trimmed the margin late in the half. A Jaguars three-pointer with 30 seconds left cut the deficit to 33–24, the score that stood at halftime. Paladugu and Kilminster led the way with eight points each, while the USCB defense forced 10 first-half turnovers.
Augusta opened the second half with another push, cutting the Sand Shark lead to 33–29, before Israel Eatman scored USCB's first points of the half and followed with a three-pointer to restore a nine-point cushion at 38–29. Kilminster added a three to push the lead back to double digits at 43–31.
The Jaguars continued to battle, getting as close as six at 45–39, but Eatman answered with another three. Each time Augusta trimmed the deficit under 10, the Sand Sharks responded, highlighted by another Kilminster three with 10 minutes remaining to keep the margin at 10.
USCB then pulled away with a 9–1 run over a three-minute stretch, shooting 3-for-5 while forcing two turnovers and holding the Jaguars without a field goal. A Platauna basket pushed the lead to 17 late in the second half.
With 1:50 remaining, Eason's layup extended the lead to its largest margin of the night at 78–58. Moments later, the Sand Sharks closed out the 20-point victory, 80–60, sealing their first conference win of the season.
USCB finished with 18 assists on 25 made field goals and forced 18 turnovers in the victory.
The Sand Sharks hit the road next, traveling to Middle Georgia State University on Saturday to continue the conference schedule.
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