MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The second matchup of the year between Centre men's basketball and no. 25 Rhodes was a wild one that saw neither team lead by more than six after halftime and required more than the allotted 40 minutes of play. Ultimately it was the Colonels who prevailed, defeating their ranked foes on the road by a score of 94-90 in overtime.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The first half saw the Colonels battle from behind as Rhodes quickly built a 16-7 lead in the opening minutes. Centre used the transition game to get back into the game as
Garrison Hildebrant broke free for a dunk following a
Drake Ingram block to put the Colonels on top 19-18.
- Rhodes responded with the next ten points of the contest and equaled the biggest lead of the game for either team at 33-24, but the Colonels kept the Lynx off the scoreboard for the final three minutes of the half. Centre chipped away, first at the free throw line and then on a pair of baskets from Ingram and the lead had been cut to a single point at 33-32 going into halftime.
- Rhodes maintained the small lead for the opening segment of the second half before
Kalib Thomas tied the score with a three right before the first media timeout. Rhodes answered back with a mini run and kept a two-possession lead until the Colonels battled back forced a turnover, leading to a pair of Thomas free throws to make it 54-53 in favor of the visitors.
- From there it was Centre who took control, responding to every big shot from Rhodes with one of their own. An Ingram three and a layup from
Nolan Wahl made it a 61-56 Centre lead. The next rally belonged to Rhodes, who outscored Centre 9-2 to go back up by two with five minutes left. Four straight points from
Landen Hamilton put the Colonels back on top.
- The two teams traded scores on the next five possessions, resulting in a 73-71 Rhodes lead. Two free throws from Hamilton and a layup from Ingram made it 75-73, and then Ingram connected again from long distance to put Centre up by five with 44 seconds left.
- The Lynx got a quick score, and then a steal and three-point play to tie the score with 28 seconds to go. Centre had a look at the last shot of regulation, but it was blocked by Rhodes and the game went into overtime.
- Both teams came out on fire to start overtime, with Ingram and Thomas matching Rhodes shot for shot. After a free throw put Rhodes up 83-82, Thomas buried a three for a two-point Centre lead. The Lynx tied the game at the line and then got a steal and score to go back up on top 87-85. Ingram found
Johnny Djema inside for a tying layup before Rhodes went back ahead at the free throw line.
- Trailing by one, the Colonels got consecutive baskets from Ingram to take a 91-88 lead. Rhodes missed on their next attempt and Ingram made three of his final four free throws in the final 23 seconds to ice the game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Ingram led all scorers as he matched his career high with 31 points, equaling the high mark he set at Covenant in November. Thomas, Wahl and Hamilton all finished in double figures as well.
- The game featured a staggering 23 lead changes and 13 ties, with the majority of them coming in the second half and overtime.
NEXT UP
Centre men's basketball will face the Sewanee Tigers on Feb. 21 as the Colonels will celebrate Senior Day and look to make it five wins in a row to end the regular season.
