CLEVELAND – Centre men's basketball suffered its first defeat of the season Saturday, falling 79-75 at Case Western Reserve University in the finale of the Bill Sudeck Tournament, played inside Horsburgh Gym.
 
The Colonels (1-1) and Spartans (1-1) were never separated by more than six points, but the home team broke a late 65-65 tie with consecutive buckets and kept their visitors at bay down the stretch.
 
Five Colonels finished in double figures, with Jacob Bates once again leading the way with 19 points and 10 boards. It marked the senior's second double-double in as many games to start the season.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Centre was scorching hot out of the gate, sinking five 3-pointers in its first five tries to jump out to a 16-10 advantage. Art Walker hit two of the triples during that stretch.
- The Spartans stayed within reach for the whole first period, however, and regained the lead at 39-38 following Antonio Ionadi's fifth 3-pointer of the half. Case Western Reserve carried that same margin into the break.
-  The back and forth continued throughout a second half that featured four ties and four lead changes.
- Perry Ayers scored 10 of his 12 points near the middle stretch of the period, providing much of Centre's offense. Bates also netted 14 of his 19 in the final half, as the two combined for 24 of Centre's 37 points.
- A late steal and breakaway layup from Dawson Crump trimmed the deficit to 74-71 with 1:43 left, but CWRU's Ignas Masiulionis answered with a crushing 3-pointer to help seal the win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- After going 7 of 11 from distance in the first half, the Colonels hit just one 3-pointer in the second.
- Centre finished with a 12-6 advantage in points off turnovers and a 30-26 edge in points in the paint, while the Spartans' bench outscored the Colonel reserves 23-14.
- Walker, Bailey Rakes and Carter Baughman each finished with 10 points.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonels travel to Crawfordsville, Ind., next Thursday, Nov. 14, to meet Wabash for a 7 p.m. tip.