SHREVEPORT, La. - The Centenary men's basketball team extended its lead to six games with a 77-64 win over Trinity University on Friday evening as four Gents (11-8, 7-2 SCAC) scored in double figures led by Travion Kirkendoll's 19 points.
The win is the second straight over the Tigers in a week and holds the Maroon and White in first place in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference.
"It's always good to win games and do it consistently," said head coach Adam Walsh. "This win streak has helped us gain a two-game cushion in the conference heading into the final two weekends of conference play. We need to improve our consistency and continue to outrebound to win games."
Kirkendoll's team-leading night marked the 12th time he's posted double figures in his first season with the Gents. Kendall Demouchet added 15 points for the Maroon and White for his 12 double-digit effort on the campaign.
The reigning SCAC Player of the Week, James Sapp poured in 14 points - his fourth consecutive outing in the double figures and 16th of the season - and grabbed a team-best seven rebounds.
Justin Cueto rounded out the scoring quartet for the Gents with 10 points - his fourth affair in double figures this season.
Trailing by five at the intermission, Centenary outscored the Tigers by 18 in the second half while shooting 66.7 percent from the field in the stanza. The Gents finished with a 52.8 clip for the contest including 38.1 percent from behind the arc.
The second half surge was sparked behind 11 points off eight Trinity turnovers as the Gents posted a 20-16 edge in the paint during the final 20 minutes and received 26 points from its bench.
Both squads exchanged baskets early in the second half with Centenary holding a 34-32 advantage behind a Kirkendoll 3-pointer. TU answered with a trey of its own to regain the lead, but a Brandon Campbell 3-pointer with 17:02 to play gave the Maroon and White the lead and it never looked back the remainder of the way. A Cueto try with 4:11 left in the contest gave the Gents their largest lead of the game at 69-55.
Matt Selling lead Trinity with 22 points off the bench while Aaron Knopp added 14 points. Jimmy Clark led the Tigers on the glass with nine rebounds. Trinity finished the night shooting 42.2 percent from the field.
Centenary returns to action on Sunday, Feb. 1 as it hosts Schreiner University. Tip is slated for 2 p.m.
