DANVILLE, Ky. – Centre men's basketball returned to Alumni Gym for their final two contests of the season, beginning with a matchup against the Oglethorpe Stormy Petrels. Centre trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half before rallying for an 80-74 victory, improving to 14-7 on the year and 6-3 in conference play.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The opening minutes of the contest belonged to the visitors as Oglethorpe connected on ten of their first 13 shots from the floor to take a commanding lead at 23-6.
- Centre eventually calmed down and started hitting shots as
Johnny Djema made a jump hook to get the lead under double digits at 24-15.
- The two teams traded baskets over the next few minutes, with Centre getting as close as seven points at 31-24 on a driving score by
Jaxson Banks and a tough putback by
Ryan Shene.
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Landen Hamilton converted a tough layup in traffic for the final basket of the half as Centre went into the locker room trailing 42-34.
- The second half started out evenly for both teams, with Oglethorpe making enough shots to keep Centre at bay and the Colonels scoring enough to stay in it. Banks knocked home two straight threes to narrow the gap to 55-53. Two free throws by
Nolan Wahl tied the game and Hamilton gave the Colonels their first lead of the game on a driving layup with nine minutes left.
- After a few lead changes, the Colonels went on a 6-0 run as Wahl hit a jumper in the paint just ahead of the shot clock buzzer to give Centre a 65-60 lead.
- The Petrels cut the lead to one point on two separate occasions, but Centre had an answer as Wahl and Banks buried consecutive threes to make it 75-68. The Colonels made just enough free throws and just enough stops down the stretch to come away with the victory.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Banks led a balanced Centre scoring effort with 21 points, doing most of his damage in the second half. Hamilton added 20 points while Wahl and Shene each added 11.
- Centre outrebounded Oglethorpe 38-36 for the night as Wahl led the Colonels with 11 boards for his sixth double-double of the year and his third in the last five games.
- After allowing 61 percent shooting in the first half, Centre limited Oglethorpe to 41 percent in the second half.
- The Colonels had one of their highest assist/turnover ratios of the season, dishing out 16 assists while turning it over just four times.
NEXT UP
Centre will honor its seniors on Feb. 9 as they host Berry in the final home game of the season. The Vikings defeated a shorthanded Colonels squad 91-68 on Jan. 11.
