Sophomore forward Matt Jacobson scored a career-high 31 points to lead the Centre College men's basketball team to a 95-73 win over Thomas More College, Saturday, Dec. 11, in Danville, Ky.
Jacobson made 12 of his 15 attempts from the floor, including five of six three-point attempts and two of two from the free throw line. After scoring 11 first-half points on four of six shooting, Jacobson exploded for 20 points on eight of nine shooting in the second half.
It was the first time a Centre player has scored 30 or more points since Jason Atwell scored 30 on Dec. 1, 2002 against Ferrum College. His 31 points are also the most by a Colonel since Matt Mooney scored 38 points, Feb. 1, 2002 against the Rhodes College.
Junior forward Coy Zerhusen scored 17 points. Junior center Reggie Magnusson added 12 points and sophomore John Patterson chipped in with 11 points off the bench in the win. Zerhusen and Patterson also had seven rebounds for the Colonels.
Thomas More's Andrae Woodard led four Saints in double figures scoring 15 points. Chris Hill and Garry Horton scored 13 points each and R.K. Thurmond added 12 points in the loss.
Centre jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the first three minutes of play, but Thomas More would rebound and keep the score close for much of the first half. The Colonels took a 44-39 lead into the intermission.
The Saints would trim the lead to one (48-47) early in the second half, only to see Centre go on a 20-6 run and take a 68-52 lead with 11:34 remaining in the game. The Colonels led the entire game and did not allow Thomas More to get within 12 points the rest of the way.
Centre was red hot from the field all game long, shooting 63.0% on 34 of 54 shooting, including seven of 16 from beyond the three-point arc. Thomas More finished the game shooting 42.6% on 26 of 61 shooting.
The Colonels improve to 7-2 on the season, while Thomas More falls to 3-3.
Centre will next play after Christmas, when they host the Papa John's/Country Hearth Inn Tournament, Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 29-30, in Danville, Ky. The Colonels are slated to play LaGrange College at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Heidelburg College will play Wabash College in the 5 p.m. game.
Newspaper Box Score Thomas More College vs Centre College 12/11/04 3 pm at Danville, KY At Danville, KY CENTRE COLLEGE 95, THOMAS MORE COLLEGE 73 THOMAS MORE COLLEGE (3-3) WOODARD, Andrae 4-9 4-5 15; HORTON, Garry 3-9 6-6 13; HILL, Chris 6-13 0-0 13; THURMAN, R.K 5-11 2-3 12; HAYNES, E.J. 4-7 0-0 8; SELM, Michael 1-4 0-0 3; FERGUSON, Jered 1-2 1-2 3; WACHS, Chad 1-2 1-2 3; THORNTON, Ed 1-2 1-2 3; CUTTER, Brad 0-1 0-0 0; IRVING, Marques 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-61 15-20 73. CENTRE COLLEGE (7-2) Matt Jacobson 12-15 2-2 31; Coy Zerhusen 6-9 5-6 17; Reggie Magnusson 5-7 2-3 12; John Patterson 4-4 3-6 11; Josh Bell 3-4 0-0 7; Thomas Britt 1-2 5-6 7; Matt Nestheide 2-7 0-0 5; Kyle Roby 1-3 3-4 5; Bennett Clark 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 34-54 20-29 95. Thomas More College........... 39 34 - 73 Centre College................ 44 51 - 95 3-point goals-Thomas More College 6-17 (WOODARD, Andrae 3-6; HORTON, Garry 1-3; SELM, Michael 1-3; HILL, Chris 1-5), Centre College 7-16 (Matt Jacobson 5-6; Matt Nestheide 1-4; Josh Bell 1-2; Kyle Roby 0-1; Bennett Clark 0-2; Coy Zerhusen 0-1). Fouled out--Thomas More College-WOODARD, Andrae; HORTON, Garry, Centre College-None. Rebounds-Thomas More College 31 (WACHS, Chad 5), Centre College 32 (Coy Zerhusen 7; John Patterson 7). Assists-Thomas More College 6 (HORTON, Garry 3), Centre College 17 (Kyle Roby 4). Total fouls-Thomas More College 25, Centre College 18. Jacobson's 31 points are a career-high.