SHREVEPORT, La. - The Gents fell behind by as much as eight in the second half, but Centenary (8-5, 1-2 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) rallied for an 81-77 win against Schreiner (6-6, 0-1 SCAC) at the Gold Dome Friday night, January 8.

Freshman Treylan Matthews turned in career highs in points (24), rebounds (eight) and assists (seven) against only one turnover to lead Centenary. Matthews also etched season bests in field goals (nine) and field goal percentage (9-for-15, .600).

While the visitors made 5-of-8 from three to begin the second half and led 61-53 with 9:57 left, the Gents gave them a taste of their own medicine to reclaim the lead for the first time since the six minute mark of the first half. Sophomore Travion Kirkendoll, who added 23 points of his own, pulled up for an unassisted triple. After a stop, junior Kendall Demouchet dialed up from long range on Kirkendoll's pass. Demouchet finished with 12 points, but added five blocks and four steals.

Wes Miller, who led Schreiner with 16 points, hit a pair from the line, but Kirkendoll recorded the layup on an offensive board and Matthews hit a three to put the Gents in the lead with 7:22 left in the game. Centenary erased the eight-point deficit in only two and a half minutes.

Schreiner retied the game at 66, but a 13-4 Gents run pushed the lead to nine with 47 seconds left. In that stretch, the Maroon and White went 6-for-8 from the charity stripe and Kirkendoll even hit another triple.

Centenary finished 18-for-21 (85.7 percent) from the line for the game, making more free throws than Schreiner even attempted (13).

Junior James Sapp finished the game with a double-double despite foul trouble. He finished the game with 10 points and 13 boards, including 10 rebounds in the first half alone.

Despite the hot shooting start to the second half, the Mountaineers finished the game 2-for-10 from distance, including a 35-footer banked shot at the buzzer when Centenary was up seven. Tied at 33 shortly before half, Schreiner's Jared Thompson made four free throws to give the visitors the lead into the locker room.

Thompson came off the bench for 16 points and nine boards.

Schreiner made 9-of-16 from the field out of the lockerroom to build the eight-point lead. Up 39-38, Blake Kelley made a layup and Christian Pena hit a triple. Kirkendoll answered with a three, but Pena responded with another three. Centenary again cut the deficit to one, 49-48, but Miller tripled and split from the line. A fastbreak layup and a three by Dutin Bercutt put Schreiner ahead 61-53 with 10 minutes left in the game.

Schreiner began the game hitting 9-of-17 (52.9 percent) from distance, but only finished the game 11-for-27 (40.7 percent).

Centenary returns to action Sunday against Trinity at noon.