SHREVEPORT, La. - The Gents were able to cut a double-digit halftime deficit to just five in the second half, but Centenary (7-3) could not climb any closer against NCAA Division I in-state rival Northwestern State (3-7) in a 92-69, exhibition loss Tuesday night in the Gold Dome.
Centenary trailed 66-53 with 10:58 left in the game before scoring eight unanswered to pull within five. Sophomore Travion Kirkendoll, who recorded a game-best in both points (23) and rebounds (eight), made a jumper in the paint. After a defensive stop, junior Kendall Demouchet was fouled and sank both free throws. Northwestern State threw a turnover and redshirt freshman Regis Johnson cut it to seven with a layup. Demouchet picked up a steal and junior Brandon Campbell found Kirkendoll to bring the home team within five with 8:49 remaining.
The Demons ended the two-minute scoring drought when Devonte Hall made a layup while being fouled on a close block call on senior DJ Hicks.
Demouchet added 14 points and six rebounds while Campbell came off the bench for 14 points on 6-for-12 shooting. The Gents, the 35th-best team in the nation in three-point percentage, never found the shooting touch from behind the arc, only making 4-of-27 (14.8 percent).
With the Demons leading 74-66 with 5:05 left, they went on a 12-0 run in three minutes to push the lead to 20. Malik Metoyer, who made all five shots and sank both free throws for 14 points off the bench, made a layup. After a pair of missed Centenary free throws, Zeek Woodley made a dunk. Both teams went scoreless in the next minute, but Metoyer made a tip-in to push the Demons lead to 14. Metoyer then made a pair of free throws, and Sabri Thompson made a pair of free throws and capped the run with a jumper in the lane as the lead ballooned to 20.
The three-pointer helped Northwestern State in the game. While the Demons only hit two in the second half, they hit 7-9 (77.8 percent) in the first half and finished 9-15 (60 percent) for the game. Campbell made a triple to cut the deficit to 26-23 with 7:17 left in the first half, but Metoyer nailed a triple to push the lead back to six. Campbell hit another triple before both teams threw a pair of turnovers. Hall for Northwestern State then canned a triple to give Northwestern State a 32-26 lead. Hall finished with 10 points and seven assists.
After a stop, Woodley hit a fastbreak three as Northwestern State led 35-26 with 4:46 left in the half.
Centenary opens us Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play this weekend with a pair of games in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Both games Saturday and Sunday against Colorado College are scheduled for 5 p.m. (4 p.m. local).
