SEGUIN, Texas - The Gents were able to cut a 17-point, first half deficit down to two, but Centenary (10-8, 3-5 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) could not cut the deficit any further in an 88-79 loss to #23 Texas Lutheran (153, 7-0 SCAC) 88-79 Saturday night, January 23.

Trailing 54-40, Centenary used a 14-2 run in a three-minute span to pull within two with 10 minutes left in the game. Junior Kendall Demouchet, who scored a season high 24 points to lead the Gents, completed back-to-back old-fashioned threes. Texas Lutheran countered with a pair of free throws, but the home team could not stop fouling as sophomore Travion Kirkendoll countered with a three-point play of his own. Demouchet followed with a three before the Bulldogs split from the line. Kirkendoll added a jumper, but Centenary climbed no closer in the next three minutes.

Texas Lutheran countered with a 14-4 run of its own to push the deficit to 76-64 with four minutes left. Centenary came no closer than six the rest of the way.

Kirkendoll, a night after his 26-game double-digit scoring streak was snapped, answered with his second career double-double. He finished with 19 points on 6-for-9 shooting and 10 boards. Freshman Treylan Matthews chipped in 12 points.

Centenary used a dominating 34-10 edge in the paint to mount a second-half comeback, but Texas Lutheran used a 39-6 edge from beyond the arc in the win. Jordan Kouremetis led the home team with 16 points, but the Bulldogs leading scorer, Sterling Holmes, was held to just three.

With Centenary trailing by seven with less than eight minutes remaining in the first half, Texas Lutheran scored 10 unanswered thanks to a barrage from three. Kouremetis hit triples on back-to-back possessions and Zach Behr added a three. Kouremetis split from the line to cap the run.

Centenary returns to the comfortable confines of the Gold Dome for a quartet of games. The Gents have a quick turnaround, taking on Southwestern and Texas Lutheran to close out January.