LONGVIEW, Texas - The game stood tied for the 19th time at 65 with 6:37 left, but the YellowJackets made 15-of-17 shots to end the game as Centenary (2-2) lost to LeTourneau (2-1) 101-80 Saturday afternoon, November 26.
The Gents looked as if it might run LeTourneau out of the building early when junior Travion Kirkendoll grabbed a board, passed ahead to sophomore Treylan Matthews, who hit classmate Mitchell Tarantolo for the fastbreak hoop. Matthews added a jumper, and two free throws by Kirkendoll put the visitors up 6-0 less than two minutes earlier. However, it proved to be the largest lead for the Gents.
After LeTourneau's Alec Colhoff cut the lead in half with a three, Kirkendoll answered for Centenary with a jumper. Sam Talbert responded with a triple for the YellowJackets before Kirkendoll fired back with his own shot behind the arc.
Centenary hit its first four shots from the field for the game, but LeTourneau had the answer by hitting 36-for-72 (50 percent) from the field in the game - including 13-for-30 (43.3 percent) from behind the arc.
LeTourneau later took a 19-15 lead in the first half, but senior James Sapp split from the line. Matthews and junior KJ Boyd both hit jumpers to put Centenary back in the lead. Neither team led by more than three the rest of the first, as the half featured 12 ties. Boyd hit a jumper to put the Gents up 40-39, but the YellowJackets Caleb Loggins hit a jumper in the lane at the first half buzzer to put the home team up.
Sapp led Centenary off the bench for his second double-double of the season, scoring 23 points and grabbing a season-best 16 boards. Kirkendoll added 21 points while Matthews chipped in 10.
After seven more ties in the first 13:23 of the first half, LeTourneau made its next 13 shots from the field in the 21-point win. During the spurt, the Yellow Jackets, 6-of-13 shots were three pointers. Nate West was the catalyst with a pair of threes. West hit another triple with the home team up eight, before the YellowJackets pushed the lead to 83-72 on the fourth West three during the run. Christian Seidl increased the lead to 16 on a shot from behind the arc.
The final made field goal in the run was a West three that put LeTourneau up 95-78 with 1:55 left.
West led the YellowJackets with 22 points off the bench, including a 6-for-10 mark from distance, while making all four free throws. Loggins added 17 on 8-for-12 shooting, while Seidl and Jeff Martin added 16. Colhoff rounded out the quintet of double-digit scorers for LeTourneau with 13.
Centenary opens up home play Sunday, November 27, when it welcomes McMurry. Tip is scheduled for 4 p.m. Admission is free.
