Shreveport - The Centenary men's basketball team continued its recent impressive play on Monday evening as the Gents flexed their offensive muscles and crushed Texas Lutheran 95-62 in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play at the Gold Dome.
The Gents improved to 9-7 overall and 4-4 in conference play while the Bulldogs fell to 5-9 and 3-3 in SCAC play. Centenary rebounded from a disappointing 81-78 road loss at Austin College and Saturday to improve to 7-1 at home this season and has won 22 of its last 26 games at home.
Centenary has scored 95 or more points in three of its last four games and has also scored 85 or more four times so far in conference play this season. The Gents defeated Champion Christian College 95-64 on Jan. 15 at home and recorded a historic 105-69 win over Southwestern on Jan. 12 in the Gold Dome when they hit a program record 22 three-point baskets.
The Gents shot 49.3 % (34-69) overall on Monday and hit 12-30 (40 %) from beyond the arc and were also solid at the free throw line making 15-20 for 75 %. Centenary has now shots 49 % or better from the floor three times this season, twice in conference play, and shot 48 % or better five times. Monday marked the ninth time that the Gents have hit at least 10 three-point baskets in a game and the sixth time that they have nailed at least 12. Centenary has shot 40 % or better six times this season from beyond the arc and made double-digit three pointers in five of eight conference games.
Freshman G Syied Dyer (Atlanta, Ga.) scored a career-high 23 points to lead all scorers. He came off the bench and made the most of his 14 minutes as he was red hot from beyond the arc, hitting 7-9 attempts and 8-10 shots overall. Dyer scored in double figures for the first this season as his previous high was eight points in the blowout win over Champion Christian. Senior G AJ Hall (Thibodaux, La.) scored 16 in 21 minutes as he was 5-9 overall and 2-5 from beyond the arc. Hall made 4-5 from the free throw line and grabbed four rebounds and has now scored in double figures in six-straight games and for the ninth time this season. He has made at least two pointers in a game six times this season with five coming in conference play.
Junior F Joseph Wiggins (Bossier City, La.) scored a career-high 11 points in 19 minutes off the bench. He was 5-6 from the floor and grabbed six rebounds. He added three assists and a steal. Junior G Ralph Johnson (New Iberia, La.) scored 10 points in 14 minutes as he snapped a three-game scoreless streak. Johnson grabbed two rebounds and was 5-7 from the floor. He reached double figures for the third time this season. Senior G Tevin Baker (Port Arthur, Texas) added seven points, four assists, two steals, a rebound, and a blocked shot in 17 minutes of action. He was also 4-6 from the free throw line.
Senior F Jarrell Taylor (Leesville, La.) scored six points on 2-10 shooting in 18 minutes. He grabbed seven rebounds and added three assists, a steal, and a block and made one three pointer. Sophomore F Tre Washington (Gibson, La.) made his season debut and scored five points and grabbed two rebounds in five minutes and went a perfect 3-3 from the free throw line.
Sophomore G Braeden Board (Rayne, La.) and fellow sophomore G Coby Harris (Lafayette, La.) each scored four points. Board, coming off a career-high 23 points at Austin College last Saturday, grabbed six rebounds in 14 minutes and went 2-2 from the free throw line. Harris played nine minutes and made both of his shot attempts from the floor and added a rebound and a steal. Junior F Seth Thomas (Kilgore, Texas) scored five points, dished out three assists, grabbed a pair of rebounds and had a steal in 17 minutes.
Junior G Jalen Behr (Athens, Ga.) and senior G Kile Mingo (Cypress, Texas) each scored two points. Mingo came off the bench and had three steals and two rebounds in 13 minutes and Behr had an assist and a steal in 16 minutes. Junior G Drew Young (Lake Charles, La.) was held scoreless but grabbed two rebounds in 12 minutes.
Freshman G/F Nolan Sims (Irving, Texas), senior G Trent Washington (Gibson, La.), sophomore G/F Dylan Hooter (Mandeville, La.), and sophomore G Antonio Cormier (Rayne, La.) each played but did not score as the Gents had 17 players see action and received an astounding 74 bench points. TLU's bench contributed 28 and only one Bulldog scored in double figures as G Jamir Mason scored 11 in 23 minutes. DJ Ardoin scored nine, Isaac Orozco added eight and Xavier Phillips and Sebastian Andrade each scored seven.
The Gents finished with a 30-22 edge in points in the paint and scored 26 points off of TLU's 21 turnovers. Centenary only turned the ball over 12 times leading to 11 points for the Bulldogs. Centenary had 19 second chance points to 10 for TLU and the Gents recorded six fast break points to none for the Bulldogs.
Centenary shot 48.7 % in the first half to take a commanding 47-25 lead at the break and held Texas Lutheran to 29.6 % as the Bulldogs made just eight shots the entire half while the Gents nailed almost as many shots (six) from three-point range. The Bulldogs found some offense in the second half, scoring 37 points and shooting 41.9 % but the Gents could not be stopped as they shot an even 50 % (15-30) and made 6-13 attempts from beyond the arc for 46.2 %. Centenary outscored TLU 48-37 in the second half.
The Gents now rest up for a quick turnaround as they welcome the Austin College 'Roos to the Gold Dome on Tuesday for a rematch of the game the teams played just three days ago in Sherman. Tuesday's game will tip off at 5 p.m. and then the Gents will complete the three-game homestand on Sunday, Jan. 30 for another conference contest versus Schreiner at Noon.
A link to the Gents' complete 2021-22 schedule can be found here: https://www.gocentenary.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/schedule
Admission is FREE to all Centenary home athletic contests but be advised of current COVID-19 protocols for fans. Updated COVID-19 information is now available via www.GoCentenary.com.
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