IRVING, Texas - For the second straight season the Centenary men's basketball team moves on to play for the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship as the Gents sank Southwestern University 87-80 in the semifinals at the University of Dallas.

Centenary moves on to face top-seed Texas Lutheran at 2:30 p.m. with the conference title on the line.

SCAC Player of the Year, James Sapp, led the Gents with 28 points and nine rebounds - marking the 22nd time this season the sophomore has scored in double figures and the nine with 20-plus points this season.

Caden Cheramie added 15 points with 14 coming from Brandon Campbell. SCAC Co-Newcomer of the Year Travion Kirkendoll chimed in 10 points for the Maroon and White. The scoring effort marks the ninth in double figures for Cheramie. Kirkendoll added his 19th double-digit scoring effort and ninth consecutive while Campbell has 11 double figure scoring efforts, including his third straight in the win.

The Gents, who trailed by as many as 12 points in the contest, opened the second half on a 10-0 run to grab their first lead since the 18:33 mark of the opening half. TLU answered back and regained the lead and marched the advantage out to six points on a 3-pointer from Ben Stiver with 4:05 remaining.

A quick 7-0 spurt by the Gents gave the squad back the lead and this time for good. A Cheramie knocked down a jumper with 2:47 left to regain the advantage for the Maroon and White.

Centenary closed the contest on an 11-5 run to capture the victory and force the third meeting with TLU this season. The two squads have split the previous meetings this season holding home-court advantage.

The Gents finished the night shooting 48.3 percent from the field and was 73.7 percent from the charity stripe. SU connected on half its shots from the floor and was 75 percent from the free-throw line.

Ryan Ogden and Chris Lee led the Pirates with 13 points each in the losing effort.