JACKSON, Miss. – Centre men's basketball won its fifth consecutive game Sunday afternoon, defeating Millsaps, 78-71, inside the Hangar Dome behind a 37-point outing from Jacob Bates.
 
The Colonels improve to 12-2 overall and 2-1 in the Southern Athletic Association, sending the Majors – who had won seven in a row entering the game – to 10-4 overall (2-1 SAA).
 
Bates lived at the free throw line, sinking 16 of 20 attempts while also knocking down a personal-best five 3-pointers.
 
Perry Ayers recorded an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double, as well.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Bates connected on a couple of early 3-pointers for the Colonels, helping the visitors to an early 10-5 advantage.
- Down 22-16 later in the half, the Colonels used a 9-0 run to regain a lead prior to the under-four media break.
- Centre would carry a 32-27 advantage into the half, helped by 10 Millsaps turnovers.
- A 10-2 run from the Majors helped them take a 40-38 lead by the first media timeout of the second half.
- Centre put together an extended 24-11 stretch across the middle of the period, building a 62-51 lead by the five-minute mark. Bates scored a dozen of those points for the Colonels.
- Millsaps had one final push, pulling within 66-63 with under two minutes remaining.
- That was as close as the Majors would get, however, as the Colonels iced the game at the free throw line.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Bates set career highs in both free throws (16) and 3-pointers (5) made, finishing 8 of 17 overall from the floor with 24 second half points.
- Ayers' double-double was the first of his career, and his 12 boards proved to be a personal high, as well. He helped the Colonels finish with a 39-32 advantage on the glass.
- Centre was +19 at the charity stripe, hitting 34 to Millsaps' 15. The Colonels went 29-for-32 at the line in the second half alone.
- Eight offensive rebounds for the Colonels led to a 13-1 edge in second chance points.
- The contest featured eight lead changes and five ties.
 
UP NEXT
Centre returns home next weekend, beginning Friday, Jan. 10, against Berry. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET inside Alumni Gymnasium.