AUGUSTA, GEORGIA — The University of South Carolina Beaufort men's basketball team closed out the 2025–26 season series against the Augusta Jaguars with a thrilling 91–90 victory, completing a comeback in the final five minutes from final points from Evan Kilminster with seven seconds remaining.
The Sand Sharks improved to 15–5 on the season and 9–3 in Peach Belt Conference play, while Augusta fell to 9–13 overall and 4–8 in the PBC.
USCB was led by Kilminster, who finished with 24 points and three assists, knocking down six three-pointers. He was one of four Sand Sharks in double figures, joined by Qurahn Anderson (15 points), Ismail Rashid (14 points), and Dominic Eason (10 points).
After the Jaguars scored first, it was Kilminster who opened the scoring for the Sand Sharks, hitting a three-pointer assisted by Dylan Lewis to give USCB its first lead of the game. That shot sparked a strong first half for the Sand Sharks. Following a brief Augusta lead, Eason scored his first points off a Jaguars turnover, again assisted by Lewis, to tie the game at 7–7.
The teams were tied at 14–14 before a steal by Nolan Paladugu led to a fast break and a Kilminster three-pointer to give USCB a three-point advantage. That basket began back-to-back threes, as Paladugu followed with a three of his own on a second-chance opportunity after an offensive rebound by Lewis. The USCB defense held Augusta scoreless for just over three minutes before a basket cut the Sand Sharks' lead to four. Rashid continued his strong first-half shooting by hitting a three-pointer to push the lead back to seven.
Hudson Norton knocked down the team's fourth three-pointer of the half to extend the lead to nine, the largest advantage of the game at that point. The Sand Sharks stretched the lead to 10 after a Kilminster steal led to a Norton layup, his seventh point of the half.
USCB later used a 12–0 run, highlighted by five points from Anderson, to build an 18-point advantage and take a 41–23 lead. During the four-minute stretch, the Sand Sharks shot 5-for-9 from the floor, forced six turnovers, and held Augusta to just one shot attempt.
The Sand Sharks carried a double-digit lead into halftime, going into the break ahead 53–38 after Kilminster scored in the closing seconds of the first half.
Augusta opened the second half with a 12–0 run, shooting 5-for-7 from the floor, including two three-pointers, to cut the Sand Sharks' lead to three. Anderson stopped the run at the 16:25 mark with a layup off a rebound by Aiden Fitzgerald to push the lead to 55-50.
USCB maintained its lead for several minutes as Augusta continued to pull within one possession but the Sand Sharks answered. The Jaguars eventually tied the game at 60–60 and then took the lead, extending it to 64–60 before a Kilminster three-pointer brought the Sand Sharks back within one. As Augusta increased the lead again, a basket by Shea Champine cut the deficit to five.
The Jaguars built their largest lead of the second half at 83–73 with five minutes remaining. Kilminster answered with a three-pointer to bring the game back within single digits, and Eason followed with a three of his own to make it 86–82.
Trailing 90–86 with 1:02 remaining, Kilminster hit a clutch three-pointer and then knocked down two free throws to complete a 5–0 run and secure the 91–90 victory. After Kilminster's three cut the deficit to one, the Sand Sharks forced a defensive stop. A Champine defensive rebound then led to the game-winning free throws.
USCB forced 16 turnovers and shot 52.7 percent from the floor, including 12 made three-pointers in the win.
The Sand Sharks return home Saturday afternoon to face Lander University at The Cove on Novant Health Court, with tipoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Stay tuned to uscbathletics.com and follow Sand Shark Athletics on social media for the latest news, updates, and information.
