MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Centre men's basketball suffered their first defeat of the season Monday, falling 90-64 to No. 3 Augustana (IL) in a neutral site meeting at Rhodes College.
The Colonels (8-1) matched their best start in program history by winning their first eight games, but the Vikings (9-1) proved too much in the second half, snapping Centre's streak.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Centre started out offensively, hitting 4 of 7 early to take an 11-7 lead.
- A 7-0 run from the Vikings helped them take their first advantage of the contest, and the two sides went back and forth the rest of the opening period.
- Augustana led 35-31 at the break, shooting 50% (14-for-28) to Centre's 36% (9-for-25). The Colonels went 12 of 14 at the free throw line to help keep pace.
- While Centre continued to struggle offensively, the Vikings were sizzling from the field in the second half.
- A 19-5 run midway through the period turned a close game into a lopsided 71-49 advantage for Augustana with six minutes remaining.
- As a team, the Vikings hit 21 of 26 shots in the second half, including 8 of 9 from 3-point range. Nolan Ebel drained 16 of his game-high 23 points across the final 20 minutes.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
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Jacob Bates led the Colonels with 11 points, with
Art Walker,
Bailey Rakes and
Dawson Crump scoring eight each.
- Centre held advantages in points in the paint (28-24) and off turnovers (10-7), but Augustana went +21 from the 3-point line and had four individuals score in double figures.
UP NEXT
Centre continues action in Memphis tomorrow (Tuesday) at 2 p.m. in a neutral game against Blackburn.
