CONWAY, Ark. – Centre men's basketball earned a significant Southern Athletic Association victory on the road Friday evening, defeating Hendrix 68-62 inside the Grove Center.
 
The Colonels (9-6, 3-2 SAA) held the Warriors (10-7, 3-3) to their lowest scoring output in any conference game this season, and forced 16 turnovers.
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Centre employed an effective full-court zone defense early on, limiting Hendrix to two made field goals compared to five turnovers by the under-12 media timeout. Marshall Taylor converted a traditional 3-point play heading into the break, giving the Colonels a 15-8 lead.
- Minutes later, Centre took its first double digit advantage at 19-8 after a Drew Wilson steal led to a bucket from RJ Smith.
- The Warriors hit six 3-pointers throughout the first half to keep the game close, and the Colonels eventually carried a 37-34 lead into the intermission, paced by Taylor's 12 points off the bench.
- The battle continued into the second half, and Hendrix eventually leveled the score at 51-51 for the first time since the game was 4-4 in the opening minutes.
- The Colonels doubled their defensive effort, forcing turnovers on three consecutive possessions and going on an 11-4 run heading toward the final media break. Noah Ring capped the spurt with a corner 3-pointer, and Centre held on in the final stretch to secure the road win.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Dustin Gerald finished with a team-high 15 points in the win, including 10 in the second half, and Smith followed with 13. Both seniors have reached double figures in every game this season. Smith also hauled in 10 rebounds for his seventh double-double.
- Taylor likewise totaled 13 points, continuing his recent string of solid outings. The sophomore is averaging nearly 12 points per game and shooting 64% off the bench over the last four contests.
- After Hendrix went 6-for-13 from long range in the opening half, Centre held the Warriors to just 3-for-14 in the second.
- Centre out-rebounded Hendrix 34-30 and held a 34-26 advantage for points scored in the paint.
- The Colonels turned 16 Warrior turnovers into 21 points.
 
UP NEXT
Centre takes on Rhodes Sunday at 4 p.m. ET in Memphis, Tenn.