AMERICUS - It was a second half of runs on Thursday evening in the Peach Belt Conference opener for the Augusta University and Georgia Southwestern men's basketball teams, but every time Augusta pulled close to GSW, the Hurricanes had an answer and eventually held off the Jaguars, 68-64, in the Storm Dome. 

GSW improved its record to 5-3 overall and 1-0 in the PBC while Augusta fell to 3-4, 0-1 in the PBC. The Hurricanes snapped a 10-game losing streak to Augusta during which the Jaguars won by an average of 12 points.

On Thursday, the Hurricanes led wire-to-wire.

GSW jumped out to a 7-0 lead, but, as would be a trend throughout the evening, Augusta fought back. Tommy Williams' layup with 13:01 left before the half pulled the Jaguars within a point, 12-11. 

However, for every Augusta run, GSW had an answer. This time the Hurricanes went on a 15-2 run to open their largest lead of the game (14 points) with 7:21 remaining in the first half. GSW managed to keep the advantage near double digits for the rest of the opening session and led 37-26 at the break. 

Following a pair of Chandler Thomas free throws for GSW at the 16:50 mark of the second half that stretched the Hurricanes lead to 41-29, the Jaguars went on a 12-3 run to pull within three.

Damien Leonard drained a 3-pointer out of a GSW timeout on the ensuing possession to temporarily stop the bleeding for the Hurricanes.

GSW eventually pushed its lead back to eight points when Jure Gunjina sank a 3-pointer with 6:49 to play to put the Hurricanes ahead, 54-46. 

But two quick steals by Augusta and scores on the other end pulled the Jaguars within a point, 54-53, with 6:19 remaining.

Again the Hurricanes had an answer. GSW rattled off eight unanswered points, capped by a pair of Leonard 3-pointers, to lead by nine with 3:59 to go.

Augusta had one last run left, but the Jaguars could only pull within a basket. A pair of Keshun Sherrill free throws had Augusta at 62-60 with 1:34 left. Sherrill returned to the line a minute later and had the Jaguars within two again, 64-62, but Adam Thoseby made three of his final four from the charity stripe to help seal the win for GSW.

The Hurricanes finished with a slight edge in rebounding, 40-38, and dished out six more assists, 14-8. 

Gunjina connected on 6 of 7 shots, including all four of his attempts from beyond the arc, and finished with 18 points. He added five rebounds and five assists. Leonard made 5 of 11 shots from 3-point range and all four of his free throws in 29 minutes of action to finish with a team-best 21 points. Thomas chipped in 12 points and three steals.

Sherrill led all scorers with 23 points, 19 of which came in the second half. Tamyrik Fields added 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds. Keith Crump scored 10. Williams matched Fields with seven boards.

The Hurricanes return to the hardwood on Saturday when they host Lander at 3:30 p.m.