SHREVEPORT, La. - With a free throw with 15:38 left in the first half, junior Travion Kirkendoll became the 33rd Gent (and the second this season) to hit 1,000 career points.
However, a 21-point second half lead dissipated to one, and the Wildcats last-second shot to tie it rimmed out as Centenary (3-5) beat Pelican State-rival Louisiana College (1-4) 80-77 Thursday night, December 8.
Kirkendoll scored the game's first points for the Gents on a layup to pull within one of the 1,000 mark. After being fouled shooting with 15:38 left in the first half, Kirkendoll split from the line to hit the milestone, joining senior teammate James Sapp to make the 1,000 career-point club this season.
Kirkendoll scored 16 points in the first half alone on 5-for-8 shooting, including hitting both attempts from downtown, and went 4-for-5 from the line. Despite only a free throw in the second half, he added seven rebounds to finish with 11 in the contest - his second double-double of the season.
The Maroon and White led 73-63 with 5:14 left in the game, when Louisiana College went on an 11-2 run to pull within one with two minutes left. Both teams went scoreless for the next minute, when Sapp made a layup on a dime from junior KJ Boyd. After sophomore Treylan Matthews split from the line in consecutive trips, Louisiana College had one last chance with four seconds left. However, Torrian Lee's three from about 35 feet bounced around the rim and out as Centenary held on for the three-point win.
Sapp led the Gents with 19 points, adding nine rebounds and two blocks. Freshman Jericho Gray came off the bench for a collegiate high 17 points, having only scored 10 total for the season prior to the game.
While the Wildcats used a 46-26 advantage in points in the paint, Centenary raced past Louisiana College 21-8 in fastbreak points. The Gents had a season-best 20 assists on 26 baskets (assist on 76.9 percent of baskets).
Centenary held a 24-20 lead with seven minutes in the first half, when an 11-3 run pushed the lead to double-digits. Kirkendoll made a pair of free throws before junior Trey Barstow tallied a steal on two-straight defensive possessions with good results. The first finished with a Barstow fastbreak layup, while the second led to a shooting foul and a pair of free throws. Louisiana College answered with a three, but a fastbreak hoop by Gray off a pass from Barstow up 32-23.
Barstow capped the run with a three, finishing the game with seven points by making both shots taken from the field and going 2-for-3 from the line.
With Centenary up 38-27 with three minutes until the break, the Gents used a 10-2 run to open up a 48-29 halftime lead. Sapp split from the line before Kirkendoll and Gray hit triples. Louisiana College answered with a layup, but Gray hit a trey off a pass from Sapp shortly before half to open up a 19-point lead at half time.
The 29 points in the first half were the least in a half for a Gents opponent this season.
The Maroon and White led 69-52 with eight minutes left, but Louisiana College countered with an 11-2 run to cut the lead to single digits. Nick Burks made a pair from the line, before a John Parker jumper reduced the deficit to 13. Raheem Regis, who scored a game-best 25 points and grabbed 17 rebounds off the bench for the Wildcats, grabbed an offensive board and scored on the putback. After a pair of Regis free throws, freshman Cedric Harris scored off a tip-in. However, Palmer Hill answered with a three to cut the deficit to 71-63 with 5:27 left.
The Gents led 75-67 when two layups by Regis and a Hill three brought the Wildcats within one. However, Timothy Stokes failed to give the visitors the lead when he missed a pair from the line.
Regis scored 21 points and added 12 rebounds in the second half alone. In fact, Regis' 17 rebounds were half of Louisiana College's total, as Centenary held a 49-34 edge in rebounds.
John Parker added 16 for the visitors.
Centenary returns to action next Saturday, December 17, when it kicks off the Shreveport-Bossier Holiday Classic Tripleheader at the CenturyLink Center at 2 p.m. Tickets are available weekdays from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. by visiting the Gold Dome athletic office, with a limited amount available for $15, $25, and $50.
