Shreveport - The Centenary men's basketball team turned in another stellar offensive performance on Tuesday evening as the Gents recorded a convincing 87-52 victory over the Austin College 'Roos in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play at the Gold Dome.
The Gents (10-7, 5-4 SCAC) won by 35 points just 24 hours after easily disposing of Texas Lutheran 95-62 on their home court, where they improved to 8-1 this season and 23-4 over the last 27 games. Centenary rebounded from a disappointing 81-78 road loss at Austin College last Saturday and got its revenge on Tuesday over the 'Roos (5-10, 2-4 SCAC).
Centenary has now scored 85 or more points five times so far in nine conference games this season. The Gents have scored 95 or more points in four of their last five games after scoring 95 in a win over Champion Christian at home on Jan. 15 preceded by a 105-69 conference win over Southwestern on Jan. 12 in the Gold Dome.
Four Gents reached double figures on Tuesday led 16 from by senior G Kile Mingo (Cypress, Texas) who nailed 4-7 attempts from beyond the arc and made 6-9 shots overall in 17 minutes. Sophomore G Braeden Board (Rayne, La.) scored 13 points in 18 minutes with seven rebounds, four steals, and two blocked shots. Board was 4-7 overall from the floor, 4-6 from the free throw line, and made one trey. He has reached double figures six times this season and four times in conference play.
Senior G AJ Hall (Thibodaux, La.) and junior G Jalen Behr (Athens, Ga.) each scored 12 points. Hall grabbed two rebounds and had an assist in 17 minutes and made 5-10 shots overall including 2-5 three-point attempts. Hall continued his stellar play of late as he reached double figures for the seventh-straight game and did so for the ninth time this season. Hall has scored in eight of nine conference games this season. Behr played 17 minutes and added three rebounds and a steal as he was 4-7 from the field, 3-4 from the free throw line and made one trey.
Junior F Seth Thomas (Kilgore, Texas) and senior F Jarrell Taylor (Leesville, La.) each scored nine. Thomas went 5-6 from the free throw line and grabbed a rebound in 19 minutes. Taylor had three rebounds and a steal in 19 minutes off the bench as he shot 3-8 overall and hit a pair of three's. Junior G Ralph Johnson (New Iberia, La.) scored six points and grabbed four rebounds in 15 minutes. Johnson was 3-4 from the floor and dished out a pair of assists.
Junior F Joseph Wiggins (Bossier City, La.) scored four points in 13 minutes with three rebounds and a steal and went 2-2 from the free throw line. Sophomore G Antonio Cormier (Rayne, La.) scored a season and career-best four points in five minutes off the bench and had an assist and a steal. Junior G Drew Young (Lake Charles, La.) did not score but grabbed a pair of rebounds and picked up an assist and a steal in 11 minutes. Freshman G Syied Dyer (Atlanta, Ga.) also did not score in 12 minutes and had one assist and one rebound. Sophomore G Coby Harris (Lafayette, La.) played 17 minutes and had four assists and three rebounds.
Centenary finished 51.8 % (29-56) overall from the floor for the game and made 11-31 (35.5 %) from beyond the arc. The 51.8 % is Centenary's second-best shooting % of the season next to the even 52 % that the Gents shot on Nov. 23 at MUW. The Gents made 15-33 (45.5 %) in the first half but made just 5-19 three-point attempts. Centenary heated up from deep in the second half, hitting 6-12 attempts. The Maroon and White finished 18-26 (69.2 %) from the free throw line. Austin College shot 33.3 % (22-66) for the game overall and also struggled mightily from beyond the arc (1-22) for a paltry 4.5 % and made just 7-16 free throws. The Gents finished with a slight edge (42-38) in rebounds The 'Roos turned the ball over 20 times and the Gents gave it away 16 times.
The Gents recorded 11 assists, 11 steals, and blocked four shots. The 'Roos tallied 10 assists and 10 steals and did not block a shot. One Austin College player scored in double figures as Kaleb Bennett scored 11 off the bench. Tristan Dick scored nine and Ocie Berry and Jason Jones Jr. each scored seven.
Centenary has now shot 49 % or better from the floor four times this season, three times in conference play. Tuesday also marked the 10th time that the Gents have hit at least 10 three-point baskets in a game. Centenary has made double-digit three pointers in six of nine conference games this season.
The Gents will complete the three-game homestand on Sunday, Jan. 30 for another conference contest versus Schreiner at Noon.
A link to the Gents' complete 2021-22 schedule can be found here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/schedule
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