Junior guard Thomas Britt (Louisville, Ky.) hit a three-pointer with less than seven seconds to play and the Centre College men's basketball team held on for a 56-54 win over Transylvania University, Wednesday, Dec. 20, in Danville, Ky.
The first half was close throughout. Centre led the entire first half, leading by as many as seven points. Both teams struggled shooting the ball. Transylvania shot 37.9% (11-29), while the Colonels shot only 31.0% (9-29).
The second half was just as close, featuring four ties and four lead changes. A Joey Verax lay-up with 4:31 left to play put Transylvania ahead 50-45. The Colonels climbed back to tie the game at 52 apiece when senior forward Matt Jacobson (Lagrange, Ky.) hit a lay-up with 0:42 left to play.
A Transylvania lay-up gave the Pioneers a two-point lead with 25 seconds to go. Following a Centre timeout, sophomore guard Ryan Crowdis (Louisville, Ky.) drove to the basket from the right wing and found Britt on the opposite side of the court for the game-winning three-point basket. Transylvania never got a shot off and the Colonels held on for the two-point victory.
Junior guard Matt Nestheide (Edgewood, Ky.) had another strong outing for Centre, scoring a team-high 14 points on seven of 12 shooting, while adding five rebounds, three assists and a steal. Crowdis was the only other Colonel to finish in double figures, scoring 10 points with four rebounds, three assists and a block. Senior centre John Patterson (Lexington, Ky.) grabbed a game-high nine rebounds in the win.
Verax scored a game-high 23 points on 10 of 19 shooting to lead Transylvania. Aaron Cash and Tim Tierney notched 10 points each, while Joey Searle added nine points and eight rebounds. Centre will take some time off for the holidays and return to action, Friday, Dec. 29, when it hosts St. Norbert College. The game will played as part of the Country Hearth Inn/Papa John's Tournament in Danville, Ky. |
