Austin College Men Fall Short Against Gents

SHERMAN, Texas – Centenary outscored Austin College 24-6 from the free throw line, and that would prove to be the big difference as the 'Roos fell 72-68 to the Gents on Saturday night in Hughey Gym. Austin College is now 7-14 overall and 3-8 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play with the loss.

The teams traded baskets early, with Austin Freet scoring four quick points to put Austin College ahead 11-9 with 14:21 on the clock. Harry Hampden-Smith, Cedric Hudson, and Kevin Graham each got a bucket as the 'Roos took a 17-13 lead and after the Gents battled back to square things up, Alan Sullivan finished a breakaway dunk and Cody Meyers drilled a three to help the 'Roos push the margin to 26-20 with 7:43 left in the opening half.

However, the Gents would fight back to take a 29-28 lead on a basket by James Sapp, and Centenary held a 34-32 lead until Graham's three pointer made it 35-34 in favor of the 'Roos. Centenary would score the final three points of the half, though, with Isiaiah Whitaker's short jumper beating the buzzer to send the Gents into halftime leading the 'Roos 37-35.

Austin College came out hot to start the second half, getting three pointers from Aaron Anwary and Brian Baehl to grab a 43-38 lead with 17:07 left in the game. Centenary would respond with a 12-0 run with Sapp scoring half of those points for the Gents to make it 50-43 with 12:36 remaining.

After a Donovan Williams tip-in made it 55-47 in favor of the Gents, Austin College would put together a 9-0 run capped off by a triple from Graham to put the 'Roos on top 56-55 with 6:29 left but that was the last lead of the game for Austin College. Centenary scored the next seven to open up a 62-56 lead, and despite six late points from Cedric Hudson and another three from Graham, Austin College couldn't get the deficit under four the rest of the way.

Hudson hit 8-of-12 shots to finish with 16 points and six rebounds to pace the 'Roos, and Graham finished with 11 points. Baehl chipped in 10 points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals for the 'Roos, as Austin College hit just 6-of-14 free throw attempts in the game.

Sapp finished with game-highs of 24 points and 15 rebounds to lead Centenary and Travion Kirkendoll added 15 points. Williams scored 11 and grabbed eight boards, and Kendall Demouchet chipped in 10 points and two blocks.

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