SHREVEPORT, La. – The Gents fell behind in the second half after leading by 12 in the first, but two crucial 8-0 runs sunk the Cowboys as Centenary (1-0) knocked off Hardin-Simmons (0-1) 84-79 Saturday afternoon, November 10.
Tied at 54 with 10 minutes left in the game, freshman Ricky Ray nailed a triple. After a couple of possessions, Ray got the hoop and harm off a dime from freshman Ty Prince. Freshman Kile Mingo made a pair from the line to give Centenary a 62-54 lead with 7:29 left.
However, a Joe Hoeup three brought the visitors within 70-69 with three minutes remaining. Prince missed a shot, but he got his own offensive rebound and a layup from Treylan Matthews ignited another 8-0 run. After a Hardin-Simmons turnover, Prince nailed a three of a pass from Ray to push the advantage to 75-69. After a miss by the Cowboys, Matthews grabbed the rebound, drove the court, and passed off to Mingo on the wing for the fastbreak three. Centenary led by nine 78-69 with 1:29 left.
Centenary went 8-for-17 (47.1 percent) from beyond the arc, including a 5-for-8 mark for Mingo as he finished with 21 points. Matthews added 21 points with 17 in the first half alone on 6-for-8 shooting.
In the first half, Centenary trailed 11-10 before a Mingo three. Tykeem Singleton made a layup and a jump shot to quickly give Centenary a 17-11 advantage. Later up 26-23, Matthews hit a hoop and was fouled for an old-fashioned three. Matthews made a layup and a Mingo three gave Centenary the double-digit lead. Hardin-Simmons split from the line, but a Matthews jump shot put Centenary up 36-24, its largest lead of the game.
Centenary led 43-34 early in the second half after a Mingo three, but Hardin-Simmons scored nine straight to tie the game. After a Trey Woolridge jump shot and a split from the line for the Cowboys, Jalen Terry completed a three-point play. A Chris Barrett three tied the game. Freshman Xavier Johnson completed his own three-point play for Centenary, but a Terry tip-in and a jump shot from Neal Chambliss gave the visitors their first lead since 11-10.
Six scored in double figures for Hardin-Simmons, led by Hoeup's 13 points and six boards. Terry added 12, while Barrett scored 11 – including hitting all six free throws attempted.
Centenary returns to action Thursday night, November 15, when it hosts Louisiana College. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.