The Centre men's basketball team made a run late in the second half against Birmingham Southern on Sunday, February 20, but the run came a little to late, as the Colonels lost 67-62 to the Panthers. Centre ended the regular season 18-5 overall and 13-3 in the SCAC.

Birmingham Southern began the game with a 7-0 run, before freshman Donovan Whiteside (Knoxville, Tenn.) knocked down a three point basket with 16:35 on the clock to finally put the Colonels on the board.

Centre kept the game close and with 11:15 remaining in the first half junior Kyle Binder (Knoxville, Tenn.) put Centre within three of the Panthers after he connected on a three point attempt to put the score at 15-12.

Jason Holland responded by making a layup on the Panthers ensuing possession.

Both teams then struggled offensively during the next 1:30 of play. Binder broke the drought by hitting a jumper to pull Centre within three points of Birmingham Southern making it a 17-14 game.

The Panthers answered by going on a 13-0 run to extend their lead to 16 points and to put the score at 30-14 with 5:58 remaining in the first half of play.

Junior's Jeff Mullaney (Louisville, Ky.) and Greg Ross (Cincinnati, Ohio) then each hit a pair of free throws, cutting Birmingham Southern's lead to 12 points.

Centre would come within 10 points of the Panthers following a made three pointer by sophomore Bryon Ellis (Russell Springs, Ky.) who made it a 33-23 game with 52 seconds on the clock.

Birmingham Southern closed out the half by scoring the final five points to take a 38-23 lead going into the break.

During the first half of play Centre made 34.8% of their shots from the floor and they went 4-4 from the free throw line. Birmingham Southern hit 57.7% of their shots from the floor and 55.6% of their free throw attempts.

Mark Messenger made a layup to extend the Panthers lead to 17 points to start the second half.

Mullaney scored the Colonels first points of the second half at the 17:41 mark when he converted on a layup and a free throw shot to put the score at 40-26.

Birmingham Southern carried their double digit lead until the 8:44 mark of the second half when Mullaney knocked down a jumper to put the score at 53-44.

The Colonels scored the next six points of the game following the Mullaney three point play, cutting the Panthers lead down to three points. Senior Alex Lloyd (Versailles, Ky.) made it a 53-50 game after going one for two from the free throw line with 6:21 remaining in the game.

Centre came within two points of Birmingham Southern a few times during the last 6:00 of play. Mullaney put the Colonels within two points with four seconds on the clock after he converted on a three point basket.

The Colonels would foul, in hopes that Birmingham Southern would miss at least one of their free throw attempts, but Jasen Jonus made both free throws and the Panthers went ahead 67-63 with two seconds on the clock.

Centre had one final shot, but the shot did not go in and the Panthers went on to win the game 67-63.

During the game the Colonels converted on 46.8% of their shots from the floor and 86.7% of their free throw attempts. The Panthers made 44.4% of their shots from the floor and 58.3% of their free throws. Birmingham Southern barely won the rebounding battle, as they had 31 to the Colonels 30.

Mullaney led Centre in scoring with 21 points and four assists. Lloyd had 10 rebounds on the afternoon.

Jonus had 14 points for the Panthers, while Zac Richards grabbed eight boards. Blaise White had three assists in the win.

Next up for Centre will be the SCAC Tournament on Friday, February 25 through Sunday, February 27 in Jackson, Miss.