The Centre College men's basketball returned from Christmas break to host the 2006 Papa John's/Country Hearth Inn Tournament and earned a 59-47 win over St. Norbert College in an opening round game, Friday, Dec. 29, in Danville, Ky.
The Colonels, which have won 15 straight games in the tournament and seven straight tournament championships, improves to 7-3 overall, while St. Norbert falls to 2-6 on the season.
The game was close in the early going as the two teams traded baskets. With 12:25 left in the first half and Centre leading 14-13, the Colonels went on a 9-0 run to take a 23-13 lead with just over eight minutes remaining in the period.
St. Norbert pulled within six points (26-20) late in the half, only to see junior guard Thomas Britt (Louisville, Ky.) nail a three-point basket with time expiring to give Centre a 29-20 lead at the break.
The second half was all Centre as the Colonels led by double digits almost the entire half, extending the lead to as many as 15 points before finishing with the 12-point win.
Both teams struggled shooting the ball. St. Norbert made only 20 of its 62 shots (31.0%), while Centre hit only 17 of its 44 (38.5). The Colonels did have a big advantage at the free throw line making 19 free throws to St. Norbert's five.
Senior center John Patterson (Lexington, Ky.) led the Colonels with 14 points and six rebounds. Senior Matt Jacobson (Lagrange, Ky.) posted 13 points and junior guard Matt Nestheide (Edgewood, Ky.) added 11 points in the win.
Tom Katzfey was the lone Green Knight in double figures posting a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Jake Dietz scored nine points and Eric Bieniasz added eight points.
Messiah College won the earlier game of the tournament defeating Geneva College 73-60.
Centre will play in the championship game against Messiah at 3 p.m., while Geneva and St. Norbert will meet in the consolation game earlier in the day at 1 p.m. in Danville, Ky.
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