SEGUIN, Texas - The Gents led by four with 22 seconds left, but missed free throws and a key turnover helped give the Bulldogs the win as Centenary (13-9, 7-5 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference) fell to Texas Lutheran (9-14, 5-7 SCAC) 77-75 Friday night, February 9.
Centenary led 67-60 with 1:50 left when the Bulldogs split from the line. Sophomore Cedric Harris was fouled, but missed the front end of a 1-and-1. Alex Cage then completed the old-fashioned three to bring the home team back within a possession with 1:30 left. Junior Kaharri Carter answered with a dunk for the Maroon and White. Later, with Centenary up 70-65 with 34 seconds left, Sebastian Andrade hit a three for the Bulldogs. Andrade hit another three with 16 seconds left to cut the Gents advantage to 74-73.
Harris split from the line and an Andrade fastbreak hoop tied the game with 10 seconds left. Carter turned the ball over, and a Nathan Josephs fastbreak layup with 0.2 left proved to be the difference.
Tied at 35 in the second half, Centenary went on a 10-1 run for its largest lead of the game. Carter hit a pair from the charity stripe and senior Travion Kirkendoll added a layup. Texas Lutheran split from the charity stripe and Harris responded with a three for the Gents. Kirkendoll capped the run with another three for the Maroon and White.
Kirkendoll led all scorers with 32 points on 12-for-20 shooting from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 mark from the charity stripe. Harris chipped in with 16, while Carter came off the bench for 11 points.
Neither team led by more than four in a first half that saw eight ties - including 30-all at the break. Freshman Raylon Hardy made a layup to put Centenary up 21-17 with 8:33 left in the first half, but a Jacob Kouremetis three and a jumper from Josephs put the home team back on top.
The contest featured 11 ties overall.
Andrade led the Bulldogs with 26 points, while Josephs chipped in 17. Kouremetis finished with 13.
Centenary closes out the weekend when it takes on Southwestern on Saturday afternoon, February 10. Game time in Georgetown, Texas, is slated for 4 p.m.
