BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Centre men's basketball team hit the road as they began 2024 with a conference matchup at Birmingham-Southern. The game turned into a shootout in the second half and eventually headed to double overtime, where the host Panthers got the marathon win by a score of 116-103.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The Colonels got off to a fine start as they got three-pointers from
Cade Stinnett and
Izayiah Villafuerte in the early minutes of the first half.
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Landen Hamilton came off the bench to score three quick baskets for Centre, and another pair of threes from Stinnett and Villafuerte gave the Colonels their largest lead of the half at 25-15.
- The Panthers narrowed the gap to two, but Centre held BSC at bay as Stinnett got inside to score and Hamilton canned all three free throws after being fouled on a long-range attempt. BSC rallied to tie the game twice late in the half, but a layup from Hamilton in the final minute gave Centre a 39-37 lead at the break.
- BSC caught fire from distance to start the second half as they connected on four three-pointers in the first four minutes to grab the advantage. The Panthers continued to pour it on over the opening ten minutes, extending to an 18-point lead at 72-54.
- The Colonels would not go down without a fight as
Jaxson Banks came off the bench to hit a pair of threes. Consecutive baskets from Hamilton got it back to single digits and Stinnett cut the lead to four from the free throw line to make it 79-75 with five minutes left.
- After BSC missed the front end of a 1-and-1,
Carter Baughman buried a three to cut the lead to 86-83. Another Hamilton three made it 88-86 with just over a minute left. Following a BSC basket, Baughman delivered again from downtown and it was 92-91 in favor of the Panthers.
- Trailing 93-91 with ten seconds to go, Banks stole the ball, allowing for a runout layup from Baughman to tie the game with four seconds left. The Panthers' final heave was off and the two teams entered overtime all square at 93-93.
- Things finally calmed down in the early stages of overtime after a full half of fireworks, as both teams only managed one basket each through the first two minutes and change.
- BSC broke through for a 99-95 lead, but Stinnett brought the Colonels back with a bucket and a pair of clutch free throws. Now trailing 100-99, Hamilton again drew a foul in the act of shooting a three. He made all three shots and Centre led 102-100. The Panthers tied the score on their next possession and Centre's shot at the win missed, sending the game to a second overtime.
- The second overtime belonged to the Panthers hit their first five shots in the period, going up by double digits and pulling away for the win.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Hamilton set a new career high as he led all players with 32 points. Stinnett added 25, with most of them coming in the second half and overtimes. He also led the Colonels with ten rebounds to finish with a double-double.
- In addition to scoring all eight of his points in the last four minutes of regulation, Baughman led the Colonels with eight assists.
NEXT UP
The road trip for Centre basketball continues on Sunday as they head to Mississippi to take on Millsaps.
