FRANKLIN, Ind. – Centre men's basketball pulled off yet another narrow road victory Tuesday evening, defeating Franklin by a slim 74-72 margin after trailing at halftime inside the Spurlock Center.
 
Early in the first half, senior Perry Ayers surpassed 1,000 career points, becoming the 32nd member of the program's "1K Club" and first since his former teammate Tucker Sine reached the milestone last season.
 
Jacob Bates recorded his third double-double of the season with 31 points and 12 rebounds, adding two steals and two assists in the stellar road performance.
 
The Colonels improve to 5-1 overall, having won their fourth straight, while dropping the host Grizzlies to 3-3.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Art Walker came out strong for the visitors, knocking down a pair of early 3-pointers, but it was Franklin that maintained a lead for much of the opening stretch.
- A pair of free throws from Jakob Spitzer near the midway point regained the lead for the Colonels.
- The Grizzlies went on a late 11-0 run, however, and went into the half with a 33-29 advantage.
- Bates laid in a bucket on the first possession of the second half, setting the tone for his 22-point period.
- Centre outscored Franklin 30-15 during an extended run to reclaim command of the scoreboard, grabbing a 59-48 lead with just under nine to play.
- Franklin continued to battle, though, and whittled it back to a two-possession game in the closing minutes.
- Borden Kennedy's basket with 36 seconds left made it, 71-69, but Ayers calmly delivered two free throws on the other end to push the lead back to four.
- The Grizzlies' Kale Morris hit a 3-pointer to make it 73-72 with nine seconds remaining, but, following a free throw from Walker, Franklin committed a turnover on its final possession.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Bates nearly joined Ayers in the 1,000-point club Tuesday evening, coming five points shy of the milestone himself.
- After being out-rebounded in 21-14 in the first half, the Colonels cleaned up the glass for a 19-15 advantage in the second half. Bates had 10 of those boards.
- Centre shot nearly 55% in the second period after converting 39% in the opening half.
- The game featured nine ties and seven lead changes.
- Ayers led the team with four assists, and Walker finished with 13 points and six rebounds.
 
UP NEXT
Centre continues its road swing this upcoming Saturday, facing in-state foe Spalding in Louisville, Ky., 3 p.m. ET.