Defense helps Centre beat Southwestern 72-54
The Centre men's basketball team improved to 12-3 on the season and to 7-1 in the SCAC after they pulled off a 72-54 win against conference opponent Southwestern on Friday, January 21 in Georgetown, Tex.
Both teams struggled to score during the opening 1:30 of the game, but freshman Donovan Whiteside (Knoxville, Tenn.) would finally get the Colonels on the board by making a layup to put the score at 2-0.
Nick Caputo responded on the other end of the court for Southwestern, as he converted on a three point attempt to make it a 3-2 game with 18:05 to go in the first half of action.
The game would go back and fourth until the 9:18 mark when junior Jeff Mullaney (Louisville, Ky.) hit a layup to give Centre the 14-11 advantage. Centre would hold onto the lead until their was 4:25 to go in the first half when Nicholas Atiee made a three pointer to put Southwestern ahead 20-19.
Junior Greg Ross (Cincinnati, Ohio) put the Colonels back in the lead with 2:06 on the clock, as he hit a three to put the score at 25-23. Centre went into the break leading 28-23.
The Colonels made 33.3% of their shots from the floor and they went 2-2 from the free throw line in the first half of action. Southwestern converted on 40% of their shots from the floor and they went 5-6 from the foul line.
Centre held onto their lead through the second half, building up a seven point lead at the 13:51 mark on a made three point attempt from freshman Collin Lopez (Louisville, Ky.) to make it a 40-33 game.
The closest that the Pirates would come during the second half was two points with 12:56 to go in the game. Chase Kocher made a layup to put the score at 40-38.
Senior Alex Lloyd gave the Colonels their first double digit lead of the game with 9:01 on the clock, as he made a layup, making it a 49-39 game.
Southwestern fought back and would cut the Centre lead down to four points, 56-52 after Nick Caputo went 303 from the free throw line.
Centre's offense would take over the game at that point, as they went on to gradually build their lead up to 18 points and take the 72-54 win.
During the game Centre shot 43.1% from the floor and 78.9% from the free throw line, while Southwestern hit 40% of their shots from the floor and 84.6% of their free throw attempts.
Ross had 19 points in the win, while Lloyd grabbed seven rebounds and three blocked shots. Mullaney recorded five assists in the win and Whiteside had three steals.
Caputo posted 14 points for the Pirates and Robbie Hanley had seven rebounds.
The Colonels will next face conference opponent Trinity University on Saturday, January 22 in San Antonio, Tex. Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m.
