Men's basketball advances to semifinals of the SCAC Tournament

During the first round of the 2011 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament the #2 seed in the East, the Colonels, were able to beat Hendrix College, the #4 seed in the West, 54-46 on Friday, February 25 in Jackson, Miss at Millsaps College. Centre improved to 19-5 with the win.

Junior Greg Ross (Cincinnati, Ohio) scored the first 10 points of the game to give Centre the early 10-0 lead.

Dayton Sheridan finally put Hendrix on the board almost seven minutes into the game to cut the Colonels lead to 10-2. The Warriors pulled within four points after scoring two more baskets to put the score at 10-6 with 9:52 remaining in the first half of play.

Junior Jeff Mullaney (Louisville, Ky.) stopped Hendrix run by hitting a jumper to extend the lead to six points.

The Warriors pulled within four points again after Ammon Martin converted on two free throw shots making it a 12-8 game, but the Colonels then went on a 6-0 run to take the double digit lead. Freshman Taylor Newsome (Virgie, Ky.) put Centre up 18-8 after making a layup with 5:14 to go before halftime.

The Colonels defense played well during the last five minutes of the first half, as Hendrix was unable to get within six points.

Sophomore Dee Smith (Lexington, Ky.) scored the Colonels final basket of the first half at the 1:10 mark by knocking down a three pointer to make it a 24-12 game.

Martin answered with a three of his own with 37 seconds on the clock and Centre would go into the break leading by a score of 24-15.

During the first half of play the Colonels made 33.3% of their shots from the floor and they went 5-8 from the free throw line. Hendrix converted on 20.7% of their shots, while hitting 40% of their free throw shots.

Neither team was able to hit a shot for the first two minutes of the second half. Ross broke the drought by hitting a jumper to put Centre back ahead by double digits.

Martin responded by hitting a jumper to make it a 26-17 game with 17:42 on the clock.

Hendrix went on a 11-0 run following Martin's made jumper to take the lead at 29-26.

Senior Alex Lloyd (Versailles, Ky.) stopped the Warriors run by making a layup to put the score at 29-28 with 13:14 remaining in the game.

The Warriors held onto the lead until the 7:03 mark when Ross hit a pair of free throws to give Centre the 41-40 advantage.

Centre built up a six point lead, before the Warriors were able to convert on a layup and a free throw shot to make it a 46-43 game with 4:36 on the clock.

Ross and freshman Donovan Whiteside (Knoxville, Tenn.) extended the Colonels lead to eight points, after Ross hit a jumper and Whiteside made a layup and a free throw shot.

Ross sealed the win for Centre after he made two free throw shots with 19 seconds to go in the game to put the score at 54-44.

James Ewing converted on a layup with 13 seconds on the clock, but the Warriors were unable to score again, as the Colonels went on to win the game 54-46.

During the game Centre converted on 36.7% of their shots from the floor and 77.3% of their free throw shots. Hendrix hit 35.7% of their shots from the floor, while going 40% from the free throw line.

Ross posted a double double in the win with a season high 38 points and 11 rebounds. Mullaney had three assist in the win for the Colonels.

Martin led the Warriors in scoring with 18 points and he also recorded three steals. Nick Heathscott grabbed five rebounds, while Ewing had three assists.

Centre will either take on Colorado College or Oglethorpe in the semifinal game on Saturday, February 26 at 8:00 p.m. EST in Jackson, Miss. Millsaps College is hosting the SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament.