ATLANTA – Justin Day hit a driving layup as time expired Sunday afternoon, giving Oglethorpe an 81-79 victory over No. 19 Centre inside Dorough Field House.
 
With Friday's narrow loss at Berry, the Colonels have now suffered consecutive losses for the first time this season – both by two points in road Southern Athletic Association showdowns. Centre falls to 20-4 overall and 10-3 in-conference, while the host Stormy Petrels move to 14-10 overall and 8-5 in the SAA.
 
Despite two losses in a row, the silver lining for the Colonels is that they clinched the SAA regular season championship for the third year in a row. Centre will be the No. 1 seed and host each of its games during the upcoming SAA Tournament.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Oglethorpe led for much of the first half, although Centre stayed close throughout.
- Bailey Rakes leveled the score at 22-22 following consecutive buckets near the 8-minute mark, but the Petrels quickly responded to regain the lead.
- Trailing 39-30, Dawson Crump sank a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer to trim the deficit to six points at the break.
- Early in the second half, Oglethorpe pushed its lead up to 50-43 before the Colonels went on a strong 17-3 run.
- The stretch helped the Colonels gain a 60-53 advantage midway through the second half. Crump and Perry Ayers each scored six during the rally.
- Centre wouldn't trail again until the final minute, when Day put the home side up 76-74.
- Later, with the Colonels down 78-74 and just 15 seconds left, Walker sank a 3-pointer to make it 78-77.
- Oglethorpe would go up by two after a free throw, but on the other end Ayers coolly knocked down two freebies of his own to tie the score at 79.
- Day answered with the game-winning shot at the buzzer to complete the upset.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ayers led the Colonels with 19 points and seven rebounds, adding two assists and two steals.
- Jacob Bates followed with 15 points and six boards, while Walker totaled 14 and six. Crump rounded out the double figure scorers with 13, and, along with Rakes, co-led the team with four assists.
- Centre limited Oglethorpe to 38% shooting in the second half after the Petrels shot above 51% in the first, but the home team went 14 of 18 from the charity stripe in the final 20 minutes.
- The Petrels held a 15-7 advantage in points off turnovers, and finished with a 39-36 rebounding edge.
 
UP NEXT
Centre celebrates Senior Day next Saturday, Feb. 15, hosting Sewanee at 3 p.m.