SHREVEPORT, La. - James Sapp made his senior home opener memorable by scoring 32 points and grabbing nine boards off the bench, but it was not enough as Centenary (2-3) fell to McMurry (2-2) 99-89 Sunday afternoon, November 27.
Sapp recorded his fourth 30+ point game of his Centenary career, as his 32 points was one of his career high. Junior Travion Kirkendoll scored 23 points and had six boards, four assists, and four steals. Sophomore Treylan Matthews added 10 points and four assists, while sophomore Mitchell Tarantolo rejected three shots.
The War Hawks used a 57-32 edge on the boards and six different players reached double-digit scoring. Darius Watts led McMurry off the bench with 24 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including 5-for-8 from beyond the arc, with five free throws. Luke Stephenson also came off the bench for 16, while LaRandall Scroggins chipped in 13.
Centenary trailed by as much as 18 in the second half and trailed 86-75 with 4:47 left, but the Gents went on a 10-2 spurt in two minutes to cut the deficit to three. Kirkendoll hit a jumper, followed by a McMurry turnover. Junior KJ Boyd split from the line. The War Hawks split from the line, and Sapp grabbed the board on the missed second and took it coast-to-coast for the layup. Boyd than grabbed the steal and hit junior Dyllon Weaver for a fastbreak jumper. McMurry split from the line, but Sapp hit the hoop while fouled. He converted the harm to pull Centenary within 88-85 with 2:21 left.
Centenary again cut it to three at 90-87, but the War Hawks salted the game away by hitting 7-of-8 from the charity stripe down the stretch.
McMurry led 41-36 with 2:13 before half, but the visitors used a 11-2 run to open up double-digit halftime lead. Watts hit a three, and Thierry Tchenko hit a pair from the line. Weaver answered with a jumper for Centenary, but Watts hit a three, the Gents turned it over, and Watts hit a fastbreak three for the capper. Weaver connected on a three for Centenary to end the first half with McMurry up 52-41.
Centenary returns to action Thursday when it takes on the University of the Ozarks. Tip in Clarksville, Arkansas, is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
