DANVILLE, Ky. – Centre men's basketball treated fans inside Alumni Gymnasium to a spectacular show Saturday, gutting out a 75-72 win against Oglethorpe in the Southern Athletic Association semifinals.
 
In front of a packed house, the Colonels (23-4) executed well on both ends down the stretch, advancing to SAA Championship for the first time since winning the tournament in 2014. The Stormy Petrels finish their season with a 14-13 record.
 
Jacob Bates (21 points), Tucker Sine (19) and Perry Ayers (18) combined for 58 of Centre's 75 points. Bates also matched his career-high with 13 points to complete the double-double.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- The first half was a game of runs, with the Colonels taking the first swing and a 12-7 lead after Sine hit a pair of 3-pointers.
- Oglethorpe responded with an 11-0 run, leading 18-12 near the 12-minute mark.
- Sine continued to find his touch from deep, connecting on two more 3-pointers as the Colonels responded with a 12-2 stretch to regain the lead at 29-28.
- Down 34-28 at the five-minute mark, the visitors went on a 12-2 run of their own to take a 40-36 advantage.
- The Petrels took a 43-38 lead into the half after Lane Foster banked in a 60-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer. 
- Centre began the second half on a 7-0 run to get right back into the game and regain the lead.
- The two sides traded punches and counterpunches from that point, as the second half featured five ties and three lead changes.
- Ayers proved clutch in the waning minutes, beginning with a 3-pointer at the 3:46 mark that gave Centre a 71-66 lead while bringing the Colonel fans to their feet.
- Oglethorpe rallied to pull within one, 71-70, before Ayers worked his way to the free throw line and sank two freebies with 90 seconds remaining to push the lead back to 73-70.
- The Petrels' Ryan Jenei had a chance late to tie the game, but only hit two of his three free throws.
- A stout defensive possession from the Colonels at the end preserved their 73-72 lead, and Dawson Crump drained two free throws to effectively end the game. 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Centre finished with a positive rebounding margin for the sixth time in its past seven games, with Bates' 13 boards leading all individuals. 
- Bailey Rakes paced the team with three steals and three assists.
- The game featured eight lead changes and six ties, and neither side led by more than six points. 
 
UP NEXT
Centre meets three-seed Sewanee Saturday in the SAA Championship game. The home teams won each regular season meeting between the two sides, with Centre winning by an 80-71 score in overtime in Alumni Gym back on Dec. 1.