IRVING, Texas - The Gents could not take advantage of 21 Crusaders miscues as Centenary (8-6, 2-2 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) fell to Dallas (9-5, 3-1 SCAC) 83-78 Friday night, January 12.
A back and forth first half produced seven ties, but Centenary took an early 19-13 lead. Tied at 13, sophomore Cedric Harris made a layup and jumper. Senior Travion Kirkendoll capped the mini spurt with a jumper, but Darrius Colvin made a three for Dallas to quickly cut the lead in half.
Harris led Centenary with 26 points, while Kirkendoll chipped in 14.
Trailing 77-67 late, Centenary used an 11-5 run to pull within four with 10 seconds left. Freshman Raylon Hardy hit a pair from the line before a split from the charity stripe for Dallas. Harris answered with a three for Centenary to cut the deficit to six. Dallas went 4-for-6 from the charity stripe and two layups from Kirkendoll and one from Hardy pulled the Gents within four. However, another split from the line for the home team and a missed three for Centenary provided the final margin.
Freshman Neil Hawkins scored a career high 10 points for Centenary.
Tied at 27 late in the first half, a 14-0 run into the second gave the Crusaders a double-digit lead. To end the first, Prince Giadolor made a layup after a Dallas steal, and a Spencer Levi old-fashioned three gave the home team a five-point lead at the break. A Giadolor layup and a John Russell jumper, followed by a pair of Colvin free throws, pushed the deficit to double-digits. A Colvin three capped the run as Dallas led 41-27 with 16:55 left.
Dallas had a hot hand in the game - especially in the second half (62.5 percent, 15-for-24) - and finished 50 percent (26-for-52) from the field. Levi finished with 28 points and 19 rebounds, while Colvin added 20 for the Crusaders.
Centenary returns to action Sunday, January 12, when it takes on Colorado College. Tip-off in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is set for 1 p.m.
