Augusta State in the Elite Eight

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (a.k.a. the Land of Unsweet Tea) - The Augusta State players walked into MassMutual Center about 10:30 a.m. They walked with a look of determination across the floor en route to the locker room. I just spoke to assistant coach Lenny Carlson. He acknowledged the fact Augusta State has played a few games this season lacking energy and focus. He assured me that won't happen today.

In case you're wondering, the MassMutual Center is a nice arena that holds almost 7,000 people. The chairback seats are blue. The aisle stairs are yellow. There is a massive scoreboard hanging from the middle of the arena. If you go to the top of the Lamar Building in downtown Augusta and look to Springfield, you may just see it. Trust me, no one will be throwing in any three-quarters court shots in the Elite Eight.

As for weather, the temperatures is supposed to reach a sizzling 52 degrees today. That's as warm as it will be the next five days.

The drive from Hartford, Conn., to Springfield is quite a contrast from the scenery in Augusta. Take pride in the city's moniker, the Garden City. In Augusta, there's a smorgasboard of vivid colors -- pink, yellow, blue, white, green. Here , it's gray, a cold, depressing gray. Be thankful you live in the South, even when it's 8,000 degrees outside during the summer. Be thankful for the pollen.

As for the game itself, there should be a good atmosphere here when game time rolls around. There are loads of school buses full of children outside the arena. Children make noise, lots of noise. What will this place sound like when Tyrekus "A.J." Bowman goes in for one of his patented slam dunks? Or when jolly giant Garret Siler plays with emotion inside the paint? Or when Daniel "Flea" Dixon runs around, makes a steal, and sets up the Jaguars for a fast-break?

There is a different mood for this Elite Eight. When the Augusta State women went to the Elite Eight in 2004, they shocked everyone by getting there. There's no shock with the Augusta State men being here. There's no betting line for Division II games, but if there were the Jaguars would probably be a slight favorite on paper.

Augusta State enters as the No. 10 team in the nation. Central Oklahoma is No. 21. The Bronchos - I will try to pin down why they spell their nickname different than the Denver Broncos - feature a team that likes to press and play up-tempo. But the Jaguars should have a rather large advantage across the board in athleticism, which means absolutely nothing if they don't play smart.

11:52 a.m.

The national anthem has been sung. Central Oklahoma elected to leave the court. ASU remained on the floor, the players soaking in the atmosphere - the crowd noise, the music.

ASU's pep band is in one end zone, as well as the Jaguar cheerleaders. There's a full section of supporters immediately behind the bench as well as some spillover fans in another section. They may be the loudest fans in the joint.

Fans still are filing into the arena. It may be a little more than half-full when this game starts.

Fun facts:

1) Augusta State is the lone team here making its first Elite Eight appearance.

2) Augusta State is one of only four teams in the Elite Eight to be ranked in the top 25 throughout the entire season. The other three teams? They're all on the other side of the bracket.

3) Central Oklahoma is the lone team in the Elite Eight to have more than one one-point victory (two) in the Division II Tournament. How many times can the Bronchos go to the well?

ASU 7, Central Oklahoma 7, 15:46 until halftime

The Jaguars have come out strong. They look good. Not intimidated. Ben Madgen's about to go the line for 2 free throws. Siler has no fouls. Bowman has one, a charge.

ASU 14, Cent. Oklahoma 14, 11:12 until halftime

The Jaguars are a little out of sync in their offense. They've made just four of 12 attempts from the floor. But the good news: Siler got a breather. He has no fouls. Perimeter game looks OK.

Halftime: Cent. Oklahoma 43, ASU 38

Well it could've been worse, a lot worse. The Bronchos have thrown up 1,000 3-pointers and it seems half of them have gone in. Actually, they are 7-for-21 from the perimeter. The other 15 shots have come inside the arc.

Central Oklahoma led 41-30 with 1:58 remaining before Augusta State rallied. Daniel Dixon drained a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Madgen added a layup in transition. After a Madgen steal, he swished a 3-pointer from the right corner to trim the deficit to three.

The Bronchos' Lance Harper dunked at the buzzer to give his team a five-point lead.

Good signs for ASU: Siler has zero fouls. Of course, he's also 3-for-8 from the floor. He has to make his shots inside for the Jaguars to have a chance.

Also, Bowman's yet to get on track offensively. He has five points and two fouls.

Madgen leads ASU with 12 points.

If the Jaguars are going to win this game, they've got to box out. Central Oklahoma has 19 rebounds (nine offensive) to Augusta State's 18.

Cent. Oklahoma 51, ASU 44, 15:44 remaining

The Bronchos are still launching shots from all over the place and making them. Bowman hit a six-foot floater in the lane. Maybe that'll get him going. He has seven points.

Siler has 12 with two second-half buckets.

Cent. Oklahoma 61, ASU 48, 11:49 remaining

It's not looking good for the Jaguars. They can't get anything going offensively. To make matters worse, Bowman just went to the bench with four fouls. Siler just picked up his third. It's going to take a miracle at this point.

Central Oklahoma 66, ASU 60, 7:50 remaining

Maybe that miracle's coming to fruition. Demetrius Howard's hit some big buckets. Siler added a three-point play. The Bronchose just turned the ball over. An ASU 3-pointer here would go a long way. Bowman's in the game and going to go as long as he can.

Cent. Oklahoma 77, ASU 72, 3:55 remaining

ASU still playing catch-up. Is there enough time for the Jaguars? Bowman still in the game. He may need to make something happen.

ASU 83, Central Oklahoma 83, End of Regulation

Bowman made 1 of 2 free throws with 10 seconds left. The Bronchos missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Jaguars overcame a 10-point deficit in the final 4:52 to tie this thing up.

Stay tuned!

Central Oklahoma 93, ASU 91, 58 seconds left in overtime

Bowman just hit a big 3-pointer to pull the Jaguars within two. Central Oklahoma gets the ball after the timeout.

ASU 95, Central Oklahoma 95, End of first overtime

Garret Siler hit 1 of 2 free throws with 22 seconds left. Central Oklahoma didn't get a shot off at the buzzer.

Dixon and Howard have fouled out, but the Big 3 - Bowman, Madgen and Siler are still on the floor.

What a game!

Again, stay tuned!

ASU 103, Central Oklahoma 102, 1:54 left

Caleb Brown converted a three-point play to give the Jaguars a six-point lead. The Bronchos responded with a 3-pointer and a layup.

ASU 106, Central Oklahoma 104. Final! Miracle!

Jaguars advance to the Final Four.

Bowman hit 1 of 2 free throws with 15 seconds left to give the Jaguars a four-point lead. ASU held on to win.

After Steve Smith missed two free throws with 4.5 seconds remaining, Central Oklahoma's Sam Belt grabbed the rebound. He got stripped of the ball and Tambon grabbed it as time expired.