Posted: Feb 29, 2020
KERRVILLE, Texas -- For the second time in three years, Centenary College will play for the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference title after the Gents held off a scrappy Schreiner squad, 76-70, in Saturday's first men's conference tournament semifinal contest. Official Tournament Website | Post-game interview w/Centenary
Senior guard Cedric Harris had 26 points and 12 rebounds, his ninth double-double of the season, to lead the Gents. Junior forward Matthew Rindahl paced the Mountaineers with a game-high 27 points and added 11 rebounds.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Centenary led by as many as 11 and held a 10-point lead (25-15) with 5:54 remaining in the half. From that point, Schreiner went on a 15-6 run to close the period and the Gents clung to a 31-30 lead at the break.
- Centenary hit on 6 of 15 (40.0 percent) three-point attempts in the opening period while Schreiner was 0 for 9. The Mountaineers lived at the line in the first half, hitting on 10 of 17 attempts (58.8 percent) to Centenary's 5 of 8 (62.5 percent).
- Schreiner's Chase Pinter hit a jumper early in the second half to give the Mountaineers the lead at 32-31 but Harris responded with a three-pointer on Centenary's ensuing possession and the Gents never trailed again.
- Centenary had just one more field goal than Schreiner (24 to 23) but hit on 11 of 27 three-pointers compared to the 2 for 19 effort from Schreiner. The Mountaineers had the advantage at the charity stripe, sinking 22 of 34 (64.7 percent) to 17 of 29 (58.6 percent) for the Gents.
- The Centenary bench outscored Schreiner, 18-7.
CENTENARY STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Cedric Harris: 26 points, 12 rebounds, three assists
- Kile Mingo: 18 points, two rebounds
- Ty Prince: 11 points, five rebounds
- Seth Thomas: 12 points, three rebounds, three steals
SCHREINER STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Matthew Rindahl: 27 points, 11 rebounds
- Paul Wells: 14 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals
- Alex Dehoyos: 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals
- Chase Pinter: 7 points, seven rebounds
NOTABLE
- With today's victory, Centenary holds a 2-1 series lead over Schreiner in SCAC tournament play.
- With the loss, Schreiner continues the trend of the host school not reaching the title game, although Texas Lutheran did win the championship on its home floor last year. In the 18-year history of the tournament, the host school has played in the championship game just twice.
- Win the win, Centenary advances to the SCAC tournament final for the second time in three years and fourth time overall. The Gents are 0-3 in their previous appearances, including in 2018 when they were defeated by Schreiner, 77-73.
- As the top seed, Centenary's appearance in the finals marks the seventh time in the last eight years the men's top seed will play for the tournament title. In those previous six appearances, the top seed is 5-1 in the championship game.
- Schreiner ends its season with an 11-16 record.
UP NEXT
Centenary (17-9) advances to take on the winner of Austin College and Texas Lutheran in tomorrow's men's championshp game. Tip for the title game is scheduled for Noon CT and will be played at the Athletic and Events Center on the campus of Schreiner University.
Centenary (17-9) advances to take on the winner of Austin College and Texas Lutheran in tomorrow's men's championshp game. Tip for the title game is scheduled for Noon CT and will be played at the Athletic and Events Center on the campus of Schreiner University.
