'Roo Men Catch Fire in 91-78 Win over Centenary

The Austin College men's basketball team shot nearly 60% from the field for the game and exploded for a season high 91 points as the 'Roos rolled past Centenary on Saturday, winning 91-78 with six players hitting double figures in the scoring column. The 'Roos are now 5-15 overall and 2-8 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play. 

Austin College jumped out to a quick 9-4 lead following a Vineeth Kumar three and a jumper from Alen Michael, but eight straight points from Jonathan Blount made it 12-9 with 14:56 left in the opening half. After a three point play by Blount made it 20-15, the 'Roos surged ahead 22-21 on an Antoine Thompson basket with 11:15 on the clock. 

The Gents went up 34-29 with 6:37 left to play, but Jordan Hancock scored six points during an 8-0 run to put the 'Roos on top 37-34 and Austin College would score the final six points of the half to push it to a 47-40 margin heading into the locker room. 

Austin College came out strong in the second half, scoring the first six points to grab a 53-40 lead. The Gents closed to within eight points at 57-49 with 13:50 left, but Andre Bryant and Walter Phillips combined for nine straight to push the Austin College lead to 66-49 three minutes later. Blount made four free throws and Brett Bell finished a three point play to cut it to a 73-62 game with 6:45 left, but that's as close as the Gents would get as the 'Roos pushed the lead to as much as 21 at 91-70 and held on for the 13 point win. 

Michael finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds, and five blocked shots and Hancock finished with 18 coming off the bench. Thompson scored 13, Ransom Okpala had 12, Bryant had 11 and Phillips finished with 10 in the victory. 

Blount led all scorers with 25 points and Donovan Williams added 13 and eight rebounds for Centenary.

The 'Roos are on the road for their final five games of the regular season but will be back in Sherman for the SCAC Tournament February 22-24. 

Austin College athletic teams participate as a member of the NCAA Division III and the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. 

About Austin College 

Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope's influential book Colleges that Change Lives.