KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Centre overcame a double-figure deficit and tied a program record while defeating Cincinnati Christian Friday evening, 96-79, in the Kalamazoo Thanksgiving Tournament inside the Anderson Athletic Center.
The Colonels (3-0) had 18 steals, matching their record-setting total from Jan. 28, 2018 against Rhodes, and had six scorers in double digits in the win over the Eagles (3-4).
Dawson Crump led the way with a career-high 18 points.
HIGHLIGHTS
- A trio of early 3-pointers gave Cincinnati Christian a quick 14-5 lead five minutes in, forcing a timeout from the Colonels.
- Although Crump and
Dustin Gerald made an immediate impact off the bench, the Eagles had another run that gave them a 10-point lead at the 10-minute mark of the half.
- Centre flipped a switch at that point, eventually taking its first lead on a
Bailey Rakes 3-pointer with 4:17 left. The Colonels would go on an extended 28-14 run to carry a 47-43 lead into the break.
- Crump led all scorers with 13 points at the break.
- The Colonels led for the entire 20 minutes to close out the victory, taking their first double digit lead on Gerald's 3-pointer that made it 62-51.
- A late steal by
Tucker Sine marked Centre's 18th of the evening.
- Sine and
Art Walker led Centre with 21 combined second-half points.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Crump's 18 led the Colonels, followed by Walker (14 points), Sine (13), Gerald (11),
Perry Ayers (11) and
Jacob Bates (10). Sine and Bates co-led the squad with six boards, and Ayers had a team-high five assists.
- Sine, Crump, Ayers and Walker each totaled three steals in the record-tying effort.
- Centre had 26 points off of 22 CCU turnovers, and held a sizeable 45-14 advantage in bench points.
- There was one lead change and no ties the entire game – once the Colonels took the lead late in the first half they never relinquished it.
UP NEXT
Centre closes its stay in Michigan by facing host Kalamazoo Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
