JACKSON, Miss. - Neither team led by more than four in the first half, but trailing by one, the Gents hit a three at the buzzer before intermission and used a 14-5 run to begin the second as Centenary (2-1) went knocked off Millsaps (1-2) in the final game of the Southern Athletic Association-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Classic Sunday, November 20.
Trailing 30-29, the Gents had the final possession with less than 10 seconds left before half. Senior James Sapp fed freshman Cedric Harris, who drained the three.
In a first half that featured seven ties and nine lead changes, the Gents never trailed in the second half.
After the Gents turned it over to begin the second half, junior Travion Kirkendoll made a steal and fed sophomore Treylan Matthews for the fastbreak layup. Centenary made a layup to push the lead to five, but Sam Kohnke hit a three for Millsaps to cut the lead back to one possession. It would be the last time in the game it was that close, as Sapp made a jumper and junior Dyllon Weaver made a fastbreak three. Kirkendoll grabbed a defensive rebound, and fed sophomore Mitchell Tarantolo for the fastbreak hoop.
Buck Blanz made a jumper for the Majors, but two jumpers by freshman Wyatt Behara put the Gents up 46-35 with 15:35 left.
Kirkendoll recorded his first double-double of the season and the seventh of his career with 12 points and 11 boards. Weaver led all scorers with 21 points on a 5-for-8 mark from behind the arc, shooting 8-for-13 overall.
Harris shot 4-for-5 off the bench for 11 points for the Gents, while Sapp chipped in 10.
While staking a halftime advantage on only a 38.2 shooting percentage (13-for-34), Centenary did not miss much in the second. It shot 18-for-28 (64.3 percent) from the field, including 5-for-7 (71.4 percent) from deep.
Holding a 48-41 lead, Centenary scored 15 unanswered to push the lead to double-digits for good. Kirkendoll made a layup, and Sapp took a defensive rebound coast-to-coast for the fastbreak hoop. After a turnover, Kirkendoll made a layup then scored on an offensive putback. Matthews tallied a fastbreak dunk, and then Sapp scored off a defensive rebound when he pulled up for a jumper.
Weaver capped the run with a three.
Centenary used a 27-8 advantage in fastbreak points for the game.
A jumper by Brennan Gagen and a fastbreak jumper off a defensive rebound by Trent Markwith put the home team up 4-0 to begin the contest, but Centenary scored the next six points to take the lead. With the Gents up 6-4, Kohnke tied the game with a fastbreak hoop and Blanz hit a jumper to give Millsaps back the lead.
A three by Kohnke put the Majors up 22-20, and a pair of free throws by Wade Mason gave the home team brief leads in the first half.
Kohnke and Gagen led Millsaps with 13 points apiece.
Centenary returns to action Saturday, November 26, against LeTourneau. Tip is scheduled for 3 p.m.
