DANVILLE, Ky. – The Centre men's basketball team played the third of four home games in an eight-day span as they hosted the Sewanee Tigers, who entered the game on top of the standings in the Southern Athletic Association. The Colonels knocked off the Tigers 78-72 behind timely shooting and clutch defense.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The Colonels were the first to take the advantage in the opening half as
Hunter Coleman scored five quick points in the early minutes.
- Centre extended the lead after consecutive three-pointers by
Landen Hamilton and
Nolan Wahl to make it 13-6. The Colonels continued to force Sewanee into difficult shots with their zone defense.
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Drake Ingram provided a spark off the bench with a three, and then the freshman forced a steal and saved the ball into a clean outlet for a layup from
Johnny Djema to put the Colonels on top by a 20-11 margin at the halfway point.
- The Colonels took their largest lead at 27-17 on a perfect pick & roll by Hamilton and Wahl for a layup. Centre went cold from the outside in the closing minutes and Sewanee clawed back into the game. Baskets by Ingram and Hamilton stemmed the tide and the Colonels went into the locker room at the half up 34-30.
- Centre stormed out the gates in the opening minutes of the second half as Djema jammed back a missed layup to open the scoring, followed by a steal from Hamilton and a touchdown pass to
Jaxson Banks for a layup. A three-pointer by Wahl and a layup from Banks put Centre back on top by double digits at 45-34.
- After trading baskets for a few minutes, the Tigers made their push, scoring seven straight points. Sewanee finally got over the hump at the seven-minute mark, going ahead for the first time at 61-60. Centre quickly responded with consecutive scores from Banks and Hamilton to go back up by three.
- The Colonels led 64-63 when Coleman buried a clutch three coming out of a Centre timeout. After a Sewanee score, Banks spotted up and nailed another huge three. The Tigers then hit a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to one possession.
- Needing one more big shot, the Colonels got it just before the one-minute mark as
Ryan Shene drilled a massive three to make it a 73-67 game. Sewanee cut the lead to two, but Hamilton converted twice from the line and Coleman blocked the final three-point attempt for the Tigers, sealing the game with two more free throws to provide the final margin.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Wahl finished with a new career high of 20 points and added 11 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.
- Hamilton stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, nine assists, four rebounds and four steals.
- Coleman tied a career high with 14 points. Banks added 13 points in 35 minutes.
NEXT UP
The Colonels will wrap up their four-game home stand as they host Millsaps on Jan. 24.
