SHREVEPORT, La. – The Gents were looking to even their Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference record in its final contest of 2018. An amazing first half that saw the Gents take a 50-10 lead – mission accomplished.
Centenary (4-8, 2-2 SCAC) shot 62.5 percent in the first half for the second straight contest, led by as much as 40, and cruised to an 89-69 win against Texas Lutheran (7-6, 2-2 SCAC) in the final game of 2018 Sunday afternoon, December 30.
Centenary led 4-2 at the 18:32 mark in the first half, but held Texas Lutheran to just a three-pointer in a more than 13-minute span to open up a 39-5 lead. During the first half spurt, junior Cedric Harris missed his first field goal attempt before making his next eight in a 21-point outburst.
Up two, Harris made a jumper before Carter scored on an offensive putback. Harris made another jumper before Carter picked up a steal and made a fastbreak layup to quickly put Centenary up double digits. Harris hit a jumper and Matthews hit a pair from the charity stripe to pit Centenary up 16-2 with 14:13 left until the break.
Jacob Kouremetis ended the more than five-minute drought for Texas Lutheran with a three, but Harris hit a three to jumpstart a 23-0 Centenary run in an eight-minute span. Freshman Ty Prince made a pair of layups before a layup by freshman Kile Mingo. Mingo then picked up a steal and made a fastbreak layup to put Centenary up 27-5.
Freshman Ricky Ray hit a three, Harris split from the line and a three, and senior Treylan Matthews punctuated the run with a fastbreak layup.
Harris scored 32 points on 13-for-16 shooting for the game, including a 4-for-5 mark from beyond the arc. Carter added the double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Prince chipped in with 18 points – including a 3-for-5 mark from three.
Centenary ended the first half on another 11-2 run. Up 39-8, Ray hit a jumper before Harris made a straight-away three. Texas Lutheran answered with a jumper, but Prince gave Centenary the 40-point halftime lead thanks to back-to-back threes.
Centenary made 20-for-32 (62.5 percent) from the field in the first half while holding Texas Lutheran to 4-for-23 (17.4 percent) shooting.
Centenary led 74-42 midway through the second half before a 14-2 Texas Lutheran run. Alex Cage was fouled on a three and made all three attempts from the charity stripe. Caleb Lister hit a three and a jumper to cut the lead to 24. Prince followed with a jumper for Centenary, but Alex Cage and Nathan Josephs hit back-to-back threes. Centenary led 76-56 with 5:41 left in the game.
The Bulldogs cut the deficit to as low as 19 but came no closer. Harris Jowell scored 20 while Josephs added 15. Lister came off the bench for 11, making all three field goals and four free throw attempts.
Centenary opens up the new year at Colorado College on Friday, January 4. Tip is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. CST (7:30 MST).
