AUGUSTA, Ga. - The Georgia Southwestern men's basketball team trailed by as many as 22 points in the first half at Georgia Regents University Augusta on Saturday afternoon and simply ran out of time in its comeback effort, pulling within eight in the final two minutes at Christenberry Fieldhouse before losing 78-65.

GSW falls to 18-7 overall and 10-6 in the Peach Belt Conference. GRU Augusta has won five of its last six games and improves to 19-4 overall and 12-2 in the PBC. The Jaguars are 12-1 at home this season.

The opening eight minutes of Saturday's contest proved to be an even battle. Johathan Brooks scored on a layup at the 12:20 mark of the first half to pull the Hurricanes within 13-10. From there things went south quickly for the Hurricanes. GSW was outscored 20-4 over the following seven minutes.

A Keshun Sherrill 3-pointer put GRU Augusta ahead 33-14 with 5:16 remaining before the break. The Jaguars would push the margin to 22 points, their largest lead of the afternoon, when Devon Wright-Nelson converted a layup with 1:17 on the clock to make the score 40-18.

GRU Augusta led 40-20 at the half.

The Jaguars maintained the 20-point edge for the first 10 minutes of the final period. GRU Augusta led 61-41 before the Hurricanes went on a 10-3 run to pull within 64-51 with 5:08 remaining.

Alan Arnett sank a pair of free throws with 2:44 on the clock to bring the Hurricanes within eight points, 68-60, but GRU Augusta countered with four unanswered points to build a cushion that proved to be too much for GSW overcome.

Both sides ended the game shooting over 50 percent from the floor. GRU Augusta hit 5 of 12 from long range, but it took GSW 19 tries to make five. GRU Augusta held the rebounding advantage, 32-25. 

Brooks and Daryl Davis tied with a game-high 21 points apiece for GSW. Brooks drained 5 of 10 from beyond the arc and pulled down a game-high six rebounds. Davis was 8 of 9 from the floor. Arnett chipped in 16 points. Jamon Hawkins dished six assists.

Ryan Weems finished with 20 points and five rebounds to lead GRU Augusta. KJ Sherrill and Keshun Sherrill added 14 points apiece.

The Hurricanes travel to No. 12 USC Aiken on Wednesday for a 7:30 p.m. contest.