SHREVEPORT, La. - The Gents erased an 11-point first half deficit and made 5-of-6 from the field in the second overtime as Centenary (4-2) won its first game in double overtime in two seasons against Johnson and Wales (0-14) 111-109 Friday night, December 1.
Trailing 82-77 with 1:49 left in regulation, junior Treylan Matthews made a layup and a pair from the line to cut the deficit to one with 42 seconds left. Cole Moore answered with a layup for the Wildcats, but senior Travion Kirkendoll drained a triple from the top of the arc to force overtime.
Kirkendoll finished the game with a season-high (and matched his career best) with 37 points on 14-for-20 shooting - making 12-of-13 from inside the arc. He also added seven rebounds.
Johnson and Wales raced out to a 95-91 lead with 1:51 left in the first overtime after a fastbreak dunk by Jontrell Herman, but Kirkendoll answered with a fastbreak layup. After a stop, two Kirkendoll free throws tied the game. Both teams made a free throw, including a split from the line for Kirkendoll with a second left, to force the game to a second extra session.
Centenary never trailed in the second overtime as sophomore Cedric Harris swatted the opening jump ball to the Gents basket. It was a perfect tip right into the hands of Matthews, who made the layup and put the Gents up 98-96. After an offensive foul by the Wildcats, Kirkendoll lifted the Gents to the century mark with a jumper. Later up 104-100, Matthews made a jumper and Harris added a layup to give the Gents their largest lead of the game.
Harris recorded his first double-double of the season - and the fifth of his Gents career - with 27 points and 12 boards. Matthews poured in 21 points as three Gents scored more than 20 points in the game.
Herman hit a pair of threes in the final 10 seconds for Johnson and Wales, including one that beat the buzzer, but Centenary held on for the 111-109 win.
Centenary shot better than 50 percent for the second-straight game, shooting 41-for-79 (51.9 percent). The Maroon and White also took advantage of a dominating 62-32 edge in points in the paint.
Johnson and Wales led by 11 and 36-27 with 4:23 left in the first half, but an 11-2 run tied the game. Freshman Raylon Hardy split from the line before he picked up a steal and found Harris for the fastbreak hoop. Harris hit a triple to bring the deficit back to a single possession. After Andrew Romero III hit a pair of free throws for the visitors, senior Dyllon Weaver drained a three and Kirkendoll made a layup off a steal to tie the game at 38 with a minute left. However, Johnson and Wales scored the final four points of the half.
With Johnson and Wales up 17-15, the Wildcats heated up from behind the arc to push the lead to double digits. Romero III drained a three before a Kirkendoll layup for Centenary. Herman and Romero III hit threes and Romero III put Johnson and Wales ahead 28-17 with a jumper with 7:36 left in the first half.
Romero III and Herman both made 10 field goals, scoring 34 and 30 points, respectively. Cole Moore came off the bench for 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting.
Centenary returns to action Sunday, December 3, when it travels to Hendrix. Tip from Conway, Arkansas, is set for 3 p.m.
