DANVILLE, Ky. – Jacob Bates dialed up 24 points as Centre men's basketball defeated visiting Birmingham-Southern Sunday, 73-54, winning their fourth straight while remaining unbeaten in Alumni Gymnasium.
The Colonels improve to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in the Southern Athletic Association, holding on to the top spot in the conference standings. Birmingham-Southern slips to 10-9 and 4-5 in the SAA.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Birmingham-Southern took an early 5-0 lead, but Centre answered with a 13-0 run that featured a trio of 3-pointers.
- Seven different Colonels knocked down the team's first seven shots, as Centre grabbed an 18-9 advantage by the under-12 media break.
- The Panthers clawed back within two at 20-18, but another strong 11-2 stretch for the Colonels allowed them to carry a 31-23 lead into the half.
- Centre forced 10 first-half turnovers and limited the SAA's leading 3-point shooting team to just 3 of 15 from deep.
- Centre wasted little time pushing its lead up to a game-high 13 just moments into the half, but the Panthers bounced back to get within 41-40 following consecutive 3-pointers from Cole DenBesten.
- That was as close as the visitors would get. As they did in the first half, the Colonels held onto the lead and spurned a Panther comeback with a 32-14 finish.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Centre had 16 assists (on 27 makes) while committing just four turnovers, its fewest in a game since Dec. 30, 2014 against Elmira. Birmingham-Southern totaled 17 turnovers.
- After battling foul trouble Friday, Bates put together a masterful effort Sunday, adding nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, a block and zero turnovers to go with his 24 points. He finished two points shy of his career best.
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Bailey Rakes followed with 11 points, knocking down 3 of 4 from beyond the perimeter. A total of 11 Colonels would score in the victory.
- The Panthers entered the game as the SAA's leader in 3-point percentage and 3-pointers per game, but was held to a 7-for-27 tally against the Colonels.
UP NEXT
Centre hits the road next week, beginning with a Friday evening meeting at Rhodes. Tip from Memphis, Tenn., is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET.