Irving, Texas- The Centenary men's basketball team opens Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play on Wednesday as the Gents face the University of Dallas Crusaders at 5:30 p.m. at the Maher Center.
Live stats and live video are available for the game at the links below:
Stats: https://www.udallasathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2021-22/boxscores/20211208_rej8.xml
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ6HwF42ACU&list=PLewq2uupOTb2HTwqdoFvgTFWgVkVFV3eo&index=6
The Gents (4-3) were picked to finish third in the conference this season in the preseason poll. Since the 2017-18 season, Centenary has finished no worse than second (or tied for second) in the SCAC. Centenary has won its last four conference openers.
The Gents are an impressive 38-20 in conference regular-season games the past four seasons, won 10 or more SCAC games in a season twice, won one tournament title, and are 54-38 overall with an NCAA Tournament berth in that span. Centenary's 38 wins are the most of any team in the SCAC in the last four seasons.
Dallas (2-5) was predicted to finish sixth this season in the preseason poll. The Crusaders enter Wednesday's contest on a four-game losing streak and fell at Abilene Christian, 108-65, on Dec. 1.
The Gents fell 63-54 to the Texas College Steers in a non-conference contest on Saturday afternoon at the Gold Dome.
The Maroon and White had its three-game winning streak snapped and lost for the first time at home this season. Centenary lost at home for just the eighth time in its last 33 games.
Both teams struggled offensively as the Gents shot just 33.3 % (19-57) and the Steers 35.3 % (18-51). Centenary made just one three-pointer in the game, going 1-16 while Texas College hit 7-21 for 33.3 %. The Steers were 20-26 from the free throw line while Centenary went 15-23. The Gents won the rebounding battle, 42-39.
Senior F Jarrell Taylor (Leesville, La.) and sophomore G Braeden Board (Rayne, La.) each scored 13 points to lead the Gents. Taylor played 31 minutes and shot 5-13 overall with a team-high nine rebounds. He just missed recording his second double-double and scored in double digits for the sixth time this season. He also added an assist and a steal. Board was 4-7 overall from the floor in 22 minutes, grabbed six rebounds and blocked a shot.
Senior G Tevin Baker (Port Arthur, Texas) added seven points in 17 minutes as he made 3-4 shots from the field and was 1-1 from the free throw line. Junior G Ralph Johnson (White Castle, La.) scored six in 29 minutes with two assists and two rebounds. Johnson struggled from the field, going just 1-9, but went 4-4 from the free throw line.
Senior G AJ Hall (Thibodaux, La.) scored four points and grabbed five rebounds in 14 minutes with a pair of assists. Junior F Seth Thomas (Kilgore, Texas) added three points in 21 minutes and dished out a game-high four assists, grabbed three rebounds, blocked one shots and added a steal.
Junior G Jalen Behr (Athens, Ga.), sophomore G/F Dylan Hooter (Mandeville, La.), and junior F Joseph Wiggins (Bossier City, La.) each scored two points. Behr played 17 minutes and grabbed four rebounds. He also had four steals and one assist. Hooter added one blocked shot and grabbed one rebound in 20 minutes. Wiggins also blocked a shot and had one rebound in 10 minutes.
Freshman G Syied Dyer (Atlanta, Ga.) made his Centenary debut and scored two points in six minutes. The Gents held a 27-23 halftime lead but Texas College outscored the Maroon and White, 40-27 in the second half to secure the win. The Steers took an early 7-2 lead, then led 17-11 with 9:37 remaining, but a free throw by Taylor at the 5:58 mark gave the Gents an 18-17 lead.
The Gents enter conference play ranked first in the SCAC in scoring defense allowing just 63.0 PPG and second in field goal % defense (.420). Centenary is also second in the league in three-point FG % defense (.310) and the Gents are tied for 34th in the country in scoring defense.
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.
Live stats and live video stream are available for all Centenary home contests. Please note that all dates and times are subject to change.
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