SHREVEPORT, La. - Apparently, Gents senior James Sapp really likes playing the Warriors.
Scoring 28 points earlier this season in a victory in November, he was one better on Monday night (January 2) as Centenary (6-6) used a second half run to bury Hendrix (3-7) 89-81 in the second meeting between the two squads on the season.
With Centenary down 47-44 five minutes into the second half, it was a tough three that jumpstarted a 13-0 run. Junior Travion Kirkendoll drove for a layup and got the hoop and the harm to tie the game. Kirkendoll finished with a solid night of 11 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals for the contest.
After junior KJ Boyd picked Hendrix's Gearen Littlefield's pocket, he fed Sapp, who was fouled going to the rim. Sapp split from the line, but gave the Maroon and White the lead for good.
The Warriors missed on their ensuing offensive possession and Kirkendoll grabbed the board and found sophomore Treylan Matthews for the hoop. After Kirkendoll hit a pair from the line to push the lead to five, Boyd initiated a sequence for a fastbreak hoop. He blocked a shot that led to a Hendrix offensive board, but the Warriors missed the follow-up and Boyd grabbed the board. He went right to the hoop for the fastbreak bucket.
The Gents capped the run with a freshman Cedric Harris three on a feed from Matthews. Centenary led 57-47 with 11:59 left remaining in the game.
Matthews added 20 points off the bench on a season-best 8-for-11 shooting, adding five rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block against no turnovers. Besides the 29 points, Sapp came off the bench for 11 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double. In two games against the Warriors this season, Sapp has 57 points and 25 rebounds.
The Maroon and White used a 58-7 edge in bench points and a season-best 52.9 shooting percentage (36-for-68) for the eight-point win.
Centenary trailed 22-20 in the first half before scoring nine unanswered to take the lead. Matthews hit a three and then fed Sapp for a jumper. Sophomore Regis Johnson drove to the hoop, left the ball off for a trailing Matthews for the layup. Sapp capped the spurt with a jumper.
The Gents led 31-26 with five minutes until intermission, but Hendrix went 5-for-6 from the line to tie the game. Both teams stood at a stalemate at halftime with 36 apiece.
Hendrix looked to try and take control early in the second half when Preston Link made a layup and Preston Smith made a fastbreak hoop while being fouled. Matthews answered with a three for the Gents to cut into Hendrix's largest lead of the game. Centenary tied the game at 47 for the ninth a final time of the game before taking the lead for good.
Hank Aldous led Hendrix with 27 points, while Smith added 25. Littlefield chipped in 10 points before fouling out.
Centenary jumps back into conference play for good when it travels to Kerrville, Texas, for a showdown with Schreiner. Tip is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 6.
