DANVILLE, Ky. – Centre men's basketball is on its longest winning streak since the 2007-08 season, claiming its 12th in a row with a 70-55 victory over Birmingham-Southern Friday evening in Alumni Gymnasium.
 
The 21st-ranked Colonels improved to 19-2 overall and 9-1 in the Southern Athletic Association with the victory, sending the Panthers home at 5-16 overall and 1-9 in-conference.
 
Perry Ayers paced the team with 18 points, while Jacob Bates turned in a 13 point, 10 rebound double-double.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ayers started the game off with back-to-back 3-pointers, while BSC began 0-for-6 from the field.
- Dawson Crump and Jalen Williams sank consecutive 3-pointers later in the half to make it 21-7, and the Colonels would eventually carry a 31-16 lead into the break.
- The Colonels held the Panthers to 21% shooting overall in the first period, including a mere 2 of 13 mark from lone range.
- Things continued to go Centre's way early in the second, as Carter Baughman drained a pair of 3-pointers that lifted the lead up to 42-26.
- Birmingham-Southern had one last run left, however, and used a 12-2 stretch to pull within 44-36. The Panthers shot 62% across the opening stages of the half.
- Centre weathered the storm, however, and when Bates, Crump and Ayers hit successive 3-pointers the Colonels had the lead back up to 53-38.
- A transition 3-pointer from Art Walker near the four-minute mark put Centre ahead 65-47 and all but sealed the victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ayers has averaged 17.3 points per game over the last three contests, shooting an even 50% overall.
- Bates now has eight double-doubles this season, leading all individuals with 10 boards Friday evening. He added two assists, a block and a steal.
- Crump finished with 11 points and a team-high four assists and two steals.
- As a team, Centre shot 44% (26-59) overall and 12 of 29 (41%) from 3-point range. On the other end, BSC hit 33% (21-63) overall and 8 of 27 (30%) from deep.
- The Colonels never trailed during the contest.
- Centre's starting lineup played just under eight minutes together throughout the game, outscoring their opponent 14-4 with seven rebounds and no turnovers while on the court together.
 
INTERVIEW



UP NEXT
Centre welcomes Millsaps to Alumni Gymnasium Sunday at 3 p.m. The Colonels escaped Jackson, Miss., with a 78-71 victory over the Majors earlier this season.