SHREVEPORT, La. - The Austin College men's basketball team led Centenary midway through the first half but a 16-0 run for the Gents swung the momentum, and the 'Roos were unable to recover in a 91-63 loss in the team's Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference opener. The 'Roos are now 2-10 overall and 0-1 in SCAC play.
Austin College sprinted out to a 16-6 lead five minutes in, and were up 26-25 midway through the first half. However, that's when Centenary would use its 16-0 run to jump out to a 41-26 lead with 6:16 left before halftime. The margin grew to as many as 21 points in the first half at 51-30 before a bucket by JP Feider sent the 'Roos into the locker room trailing 51-32.
The 'Roos tried to chip away at the Centenary lead early in the second half with baskets by Austin Wells and Michael Holland to cut it to a 53-36 game, but a 9-0 run for the Gents made it 62-36 with 16:34 remaining. Austin College was unable to get the deficit under 20 points the rest of the way.
Wells and Holland both posted a double-double for Austin College, with Wells scoring 17 points and grabbing 11 rebounds while Holland added 16 points and 10 boards. Kam Hogan added 10 points and five steals, and Feider finished with nine points and six boards. Austin College committed 27 turnovers in the game, while shooting just 36.8% from the field and hitting only 3-of-19 three point attempts.
Travion Kirkendoll led all scorers with 27 points and Cedric Harris added 19 points and 11 rebounds for Centenary, as the Gents owned a 49-41 edge on the glass.