CONWAY, Ark. – Centre men's basketball won its 10th game in a row Friday evening, earning an impressive 72-56 road victory at Hendrix in Southern Athletic Association action.
 
Fresh off their first national ranking since 2014-15, the No. 25 Colonels (17-2, 7-1 SAA) solidified their spot atop the league standings with the win, defeating the Warriors (11-8, 5-3) in what was dubbed the SAA "Game of the Week."
 
Perry Ayers and Jacob Bates each scored 18 points to lead the team, while Bailey Rakes followed with 13.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Centre suffered a slow start, hitting just two if its first 12 shots, but was able to pull even at 8-8 by the under-12 media timeout.
- The Colonels would rally for a 19-14 lead following a Bailey Rakes layup later in the half.
- Despite shooting just 33% as a team, Centre led 31-28 at the half thanks in part to nine Hendrix turnovers.  
- The dog fight continued into the second half, with both sides trading punches and meeting at 49-49 midway through the period.
- Centre scored on four of five possessions from that point, with Bates contributing three buckets and an assist during the stretch that made it 57-52.
- The run continued for Bates, who went on to score 10 of Centre's next 14 points as the Colonels built a 63-54 lead with four minutes remaining.
- Ayers capped the 16-5 run with consecutive baskets to give Centre its biggest lead of the night and force a Hendrix timeout.
- Rakes all but sealed the victory with a 3-pointer that made it 70-56 with just 90 seconds remaining.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Centre ended the game on a 23-7 run after a remarkable 17 lead changes and 11 ties throughout the first 30 minutes.
- The Colonels shot a shade under 52% in the second half, aided by 26 points in the paint and 14 points off of turnovers. As a team, they totaled 44 points in the paint to Hendrix's 17.
- Along with 18 points apiece, Bates and Ayers also led the Colonels with nine boards each. Art Walker finished with eight as Centre out-rebounded Hendrix, 44-32.
- Ayers' 18 points were his most since dropping 19 at Wabash back on Nov. 14.
- Rakes and Dawson Crump finished with three steals each, helping the Colonel defense force 19 turnovers.
 
UP NEXT
Centre has a rematch against Rhodes Sunday in Memphis, Tenn., at 4 p.m. ET. The Colonels handed the Lynx an 81-59 defeat last Sunday inside Alumni Gymnasium.