SHREVEPORT, La. – When you hold a team to less than 40 points for the first time in almost 70 years, you know there is a good chance you are going to pick up a win.
The Gents allowed only 39 points, the least since allowing only 36 to Louisiana College during the 1951-52 season, as Centenary (3-6, 1-0 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) knocked off Dallas (1-7, 0-1 SCAC) 57-39 in the conference opener for both teams Tuesday afternoon, December 18.
Holding a slim 8-6 lead to begin the game, the Gents held the Crusaders scoreless for nearly seven minutes while scoring 16 unanswered. Sophomore Prentis Washington buried a three off a dime from freshman Ricky Ray. After a defensive stand, freshman Ty Prince buried a three. Senior Mitchell Tarantolo weaved his way with a nifty move through the Dallas defense for the layup to put the Gents up double-digits. Prince then scored eight straight on back-to-back threes and a jumper.
Dating back to the first half against East Texas Baptist on Saturday, Prince has made eight of his last 13 shots from behind the arc. Prince finished the game with 11 points.
Dallas pulled within nine halfway through the second half, but six unanswered pushed the Gents lead to double-digits for good. Junior Jericho Gray made a layup. Senior Kaharri Carter picked up a steal in the backcourt and drove right to the hoop for the fastbreak layup. After a Dallas turnover, Taratolo scored as Centenary led 48-33 with 8:08 left.
Dallas did not record a field goal in the final 10:04 of the contest. The Crusaders cut the lead to 13 at 51-38 and looked like it would have an easy layup, but freshman Kile Mingo rose up for a monster block and knocked the ball off the Dallas player. Centenary made Dallas pay with back-to-back three-pointers by senior Treylan Matthews and Carter.
Matthews recorded a solid line of 13 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Carter led all scorers with 17. Mingo scored five points, grabbed five steals, and blocked a pair of shots.
After Carter made a layup after halftime to give Centenary its largest lead of the game, Dallas held Centenary scoreless for more than six minutes to cut the deficit to 10. Logan Fruhwirth made a pair from the line before Joshua Nunn buried a three. Fruhwirth made a three before Nunn grabbed a steal and made a fastbreak hoop. Dallas trailed 37-27 with 14:20 left in the game. The Crusaders had two opportunities to further cut into the lead, by Centenary made defensive stops and Mingo made a fastbreak three.
Fruhwirth led Dallas with 11 while John Russell chipped in with 11 points.
#1 and #2 in the SCAC preseason poll collide Wednesday afternoon when Centenary takes on Trinity. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.