KERRVILLE, Texas - An 11-0 run in 1:29 gave the Gents a one-point lead with a minute left, but two free throws by the Mountaineers spoiled the comeback as Centenary (6-7, 0-2 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) fell to Schreiner (4-8, 1-0 SCAC) 90-89 Friday night, January 6.
The Maroon and White trailed by 10 when junior Dyllon Weaver canned a triple with 2:31 left in the game. After a junior KJ Boyd steal, freshman Cedric Harris cut the deficit to five while being fouled. However, he missed the ensuing free throw as the Gents came up short on a pair of three-point play attempts in the final three minutes.
After another Schreiner turnover, senior James Sapp cleaned up his own miss to bring the game back to single digits. Sapp then grabbed a pair of steals, which led to a Harris field goal and two Boyd free throws to put Centenary up 89-88 with 1:02 left.
Schreiner made a pair from the line after a blocking foul with 27 seconds left, and the Gents opted for the final shot. However, Boyd missed a final jumper.
Sapp led five Gents that reached double digit with 31 points off the bench, while sophomore Treylan Matthews also came off the bench for 14. The Centenary bench outscored Schreiner 62-39.
While Centenary shot 44.9 percent (31-for-69) for the game, the Mountaineers countered with a 29-for-56 (51.8) mark - including 60.9 (14-for-23) in the second half.
Schreiner jumped out a 14-2 lead, but Centenary answered with 11 unanswered to pull within one. Sapp hit a shot before both teams went about two minutes without scoring. Matthews hit a pair from the line, Sapp and Matthews made shots, and a Matthews three cut the deficit to 14-13 with 12:27 left in the first half.
Neither team led by more than three until right before half. Sapp hit a three right to put Centenary up 32-29 with 3:37 until the break, its largest lead of the game. However, back-to-back threes by Wes Miller to end the half put Schreiner up 41-37 at intermission.
Miller came off the bench to lead Schreiner with 24 points on 8-for-12 shooting, including a 5-for-6 mark from behind the arc.
With the home team up 60-55 with 12:34 remaining, a 9-2 run put Schreiner back up 12. Miller hit a jumper while being fouled, making the free throw to put the lead at eight. Freshman Wyatt Behara made a shot for the Gents, but Luis Mancillas countered with a pair from the line. Paul Wells and Keenan Gumbs added a pair of shots to put Schreiner up 69-57 with 10 minutes left in the game.
The Mountaineers never led by less than eight the rest of the game until the final push by Centenary.
The Gents return to action tomorrow when it takes on Trinity. Tip in San Antonio is scheduled for approximately 6 p.m.
