SHREVEPORT La. - Both teams got out to big first half leads, but Centenary (10-13, 4-8 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) could not clip SCAC-leading Schreiner (12-10, 9-2 SCAC) in a 90-86 loss Friday night, February 10.
Centenary trailed 79-73 with three minutes left, but could not climb any closer than one. Down six, sophomore Travion Kirkendoll nailed a step-back three. Paul Well answered with a layup for the visitors, but junior KJ Boyd hit a pair from the line. After a three miss from Schreiner, Wes Miller was called for being on the back of sophomore Treylan Matthews. Matthews hit both free throws to cut it to one.
Both teams traded a pair of buckets, but Schreiner salted the game away when Blake Kelley hit all four from the line down the stretch.
Kirkendoll hit 10-of-17 shots from the field and 11-for-12 from the line for a career high 37 points. Boyd contributed 15 points while Matthews added 14 points and five assists. Centenary made 44.6 percent (25-for-56) from the field, but Schreiner countered with a 49.2 percent (30-for-61) mark from the field - including 51.7 percent (15-for-29) in the second half alone.
Centenary trailed by 10 in the first half and then 25-22, but nine unanswered gave Centenary a six-point advantage. Senior James Sapp hit a jumper, and a freshman Cedric Harris steal led to two free throws by Kirkendoll. Kirkendoll added a layup and Sapp hit a three off a dime from Kirkendoll.
Schreiner cut it to 33-29, but Boyd hit a triple while being fouled. He hit the ensuing free throw, and Centenary led 37-29 with three minutes until the half.
Centenary held a slim 64-63 lead, but a 12-4 run gave the visitors the lead for good. Keenan Gumbs hit a jumper, but Kirkendoll split from the line to retie the game. Kelley made a dunk and Gumbs hit a triple to take a five-point lead. Both teams traded free throws until Nathan Robbins hit a three to put Schreiner up 75-68.
Gumbs led Schreiner with 23 points, while Kelley came off the bench with 19.
Centenary returns to action Saturday afternoon, February 11, when it hosts Trinity. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.
