BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Down as many as 14 points, Centre men's basketball pulled off another Southern Athletic Association victory Sunday afternoon, defeating Birmingham-Southern by an 84-74 final score.
The Colonels, who are 15-3 overall, remain atop the SAA standings with a 6-1 conference record. They snap the Panthers four game win streak, as well, sending BSC to 10-7 overall and 4-3 in the SAA.
Art Walker led five Colonels in double figures with 18 points, followed by
Perry Ayers (17 points),
Jarod Griffin (13),
Dawson Crump (12) and
Jacob Bates (11).
HIGHLIGHTS
- Birmingham-Southern jumped out to an early lead behind an efficient offensive attack, leading 20-9 near the 11-minute mark.
- The Panthers' lead grew to 14 at 34-20 following B. Spence's bucket with just over six minutes remaining in the half.
- Centre went on a tear in the final stages of the first half, reeling off a game-changing 17-0 run to take its first lead of the afternoon.
KC Purvis scored six straight points to spark the run.
- A last-second layup from
Dawson Crump gave the Colonels a 41-40 lead following a high scoring first half.
- The two sides traded baskets for much of the second half, but a 13-3 stretch from the Colonels gave the their first double figure lead of the game at 68-58.
- Centre denied all attempts at a BSC comeback, and hit 7 of 8 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Walker's 18 led all scorers, as the junior shot 8 of 15 overall. Ayers went 6-for-12 and hit five free throws, finishing in double figures for the eighth time in nine games.
- Griffin hit 3 of 4 from long range, and Crump didn't miss a field goal as the two combined for 25 points off the bench. Crump also led Centre with a +16 mark while on the court.
- Centre committed a season-low five turnovers, finishing with a sizeable 18-1 advantage in points off turnovers.
- The Colonels also dominated the points in the paint measure, finishing with 50 to the Panthers' 30.
- Centre's 55% shooting mark is its second best this season, as the Colonels hit 33 of 60 attempts.
UP NEXT
After a four-game road swing, Centre returns to the friendly confines of Alumni Gymnasium Friday, Jan. 25, against Millsaps at 8 p.m. ET.
