DANVILLE, Ky. – Junior
Jacob Bates scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the second half of Friday's 75-66 win over Rhodes inside Alumni Gymnasium, helping the Colonels advance to the semifinals of the Southern Athletic Association Tournament.
Hosting the conference tournament for the second year in a row, the Colonels (22-4) avoided upset despite a feisty effort from the visiting Lynx (5-21), who led midway through the second half before fading late.
Bates' 23 points came on a 10-for-14 shooting effort, and he was followed by
Perry Ayers (12 points) and
Jakob Spitzer (10) in double figures.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Colonels weathered an early storm from the visiting Lynx, eventually settling into a back-and-forth game with a handful of lead changes.
- Six different players scored the Colonels' first six baskets, but a run of three 3-pointers from
Art Walker helped them take a 25-19 lead near the 10-minute mark.
- Centre led by as many as 11 points – as Spitzer scored eight in a row during one stretch – but ultimately carried a 42-34 lead into the break.
- Rhodes came out swinging in the second half, forcing an early timeout from Centre. A 3-pointer from Daniel Darst less than six minutes in completely erased the Lynx's deficit and tied the game at 45-45.
- The Lynx continued to threaten the top seed as the period wore on, briefly taking a 58-56 lead midway through the half.
- The Colonels answered with a devastating 11-1 run, however, with Bates contributing six points during the span.
- Centre led by two possessions the rest of the way, closing out the victory with a pair of late free throws from Ayers.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Centre out-rebounded Rhodes 42-32, led by Ayers' nine boards. That mark tied a career high for the junior.
- Ten of the Colonels' rebounds were on the offensive end, leading to a 14-8 advantage in second-chance points.
- The Colonels racked up 44 points in the paint.
- There were three ties and 11 lead changes throughout the game.
UP NEXT
Centre meets four-seed Oglethorpe in the semifinals Saturday at 4 p.m. The Stormy Petrels defeated Birmingham-Southern in overtime to advance, 65-62.
