Sherman, Texas - The Centenary men's basketball team extended its winning streak to four and completed a season series sweep over Austin College with a 70-45 victory over the 'Roos on Saturday evening in a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference contest at Hughey Gym.
The Gents improved to 16-6 overall and 10-4 in conference play while the 'Roos fell to 8-14 and 3-1 in SCAC games. Centenary previously defeated Austin College at home, 82-71, on Dec. 31. Centenary is on its second-longest winning streak of the season after previously winning eight in a row from Nov. 19-Dec. 16. The Maroon and White defeated Dallas 72-51 in Irving on Friday night to complete a series sweep of the Crusaders for the season.
Centenary, which beat Southwestern and Texas Lutheran at home last weekend each by 20+ points, has won its last four games by an average of 21.5 points and has held all four to 52 points or less. The 45 points allowed on Saturday is a season low for the Gents and marks the ninth time they have held an opponent to 55 points or less in a game.
The Gents have now won 16 or more games in a season twice under head coach Chris Dorsey and are two wins away from matching the division III era (2012-present) single-season record of 18, previously set in the 2019-20 season under Dorsey and in 2013-14. Centenary has won 10 or more SCAC regular-season games five times in the D3 era and three times under Dorsey.
Senior F Seth Thomas (Kilgore, Texas) led all scorers with 18 points, reaching double figures for a staggering 17th-straight game and 21st time this season. He is also just five points away from 1,000 for his superb career and added 10 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. Thomas played 33 minutes and was 5-13 from the floor and 8-9 from the free throw line with four assists and three steals. He joined the 500 rebound club last weekend at home and is set to become just the 19th player in program history to score 1,000 points and grab 500 rebounds in a career. Thirty-five players have scored 1,000+ points in their Gents' careers and 27 have reached 500+ rebounds in 96 years of Centenary basketball.
Freshman G Quentin Beverly (Katy, Texas) scored 15 points on 6-14 shooting in 31 minutes and nailed a pair of treys in five attempts with seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Beverly has reached double figures five times this season and scored 15 or more in four of those five games. Senior G Tykeem Singleton (Fort Worth, Texas) once again reached double digits with 10 points in his 27 minutes. He was 4-9 overall, 1-3 from beyond the arc, and 1-2 at the FT line with two rebounds. Singleton has now scored in double figures 11 times this season.
Senior G Jalen Behr (Athens, Ga.) came off the bench to score eight points in 24 minutes. He was 4-9 from the floor with six rebounds, three steals, and a blocked shot. Junior G Braeden Board (Rayne, La.) scored four points and grabbed six boards in his 21 minutes. He was 2-2 at the FT line with two assists, a blocked shot, and a steal. Senior G Ralph Johnson (White Castle, La.) also scored four and added three assists and a rebound in 20 minutes, going 2-2 at the FT line.
Senior G Kile Mingo (Cypress, Texas) scored five points in 16 minutes off the bench with three rebounds, a blocked shot, and a steal on 2-6 shooting overall and hit one trey. Junior G/F Dylan Hooter (Mandeville, La.) had a solid game in 23 minutes off the bench as he was 1-4 from the floor and 2-2 from the FT line with four points, an assist, and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds. Freshman G Dalyn Davis (Natchitoches, La.) went 2-2 at the FT line in his two minutes off the bench.
Nate Williams was the lone Austin College player to reach double figures, scoring 11 in 22 minutes off the bench. Tristan Dick added nine and the 'Roos got six each from Kidus Getenet and Jordan Hudgins. Jackson Rennie scored five, and Joshua Joe, Ocie Berry, and Rex King combined for eight points. Hudgins grabbed a team-leading eight rebounds.
The Gents finished 24-64 (37.5%) from the floor for the game, 4-21 for 19 % from beyond the arc, and a solid 18-25 for 72 % from the FT line. Austin College was a chilly 26.3 % (15-57) overall, 4-23 from 3-point range for just 17.4 %, and 11-17 at the FT line (64.7 %). Centenary grabbed 48 rebounds, one shy of its single-game high this season after collecting 49 in a season-opening 101-64 win over Arlington Baptist on Nov. 8. The Gents have grabbed 40 or more rebounds in a game seven times.
Centenary tallied 12 assists, nine steals, and three blocked shots while Austin College totaled eight assists, four steals, and six blocked shots. The Gents forced 16 turnovers which they turned into 18 points and they took care of the ball well themselves as the Maroon and White only committed eight TO's which the 'Roos turned into eight points. Centenary scored 15 second-chance points to 10 for Austin and finished with a 12-4 advantage in fast break points. Each team benefited from bench points, 21 for the 'Roos and 19 for the Gents, and Centenary dominated inside, finishing with a 32-20 advantage in points in the paint.
The Gents have turned the ball over 10 times or less in a game five times this season and nearly matched their season-low of seven against Dallas in a 90-70 win at home on Dec. 30. Centenary entered the weekend first in the conference and 19th nationally in turnover margin and ranked seventh in TO's forced per game.
Centenary held a 34-20 halftime lead after shooting 40 % (12-30) from the floor in the first 20 minutes and held Austin to 19.4 % (6-31). The Gents went 35.3 % (12-34) overall in the second half and made 11-13 at the FT line for 84.6 %. The 'Roos made just nine baskets in 26 attempts in the second half for 34.6 %, missed all seven of their 3-point attempts, and committed 11 turnovers.
The 'Roos actually got off to a good start, taking a 6-2 lead and the game was tied at 13-13 after a trey by Dick at the 10:34 mark of the first half, but a Beverly triple with 7:28 left capped a 12-0 run to make it 25-13. Centenary's stingy defense held Austin to just seven more points over the final seven minutes and held the 14-point lead at the break. The 'Roos were able to cut their deficit to 10 points once in the second half but that is as close as they would get as the Gents cruised to the road win.
The Gents are back home on Thursday for their final game in the Gold Dome in the regular season with a non-conference contest against John Melvin University set for 7:30 p.m.
See the Gents' complete season schedule here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/mbkb/2022-23/schedule
Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests. Live stats and live video stream are available for all Centenary home contests.
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