The Centre College men's basketball team ended its season with a 80-61 loss to Trinity University in the first semifinal game of the 2005 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, Saturday, Feb. 26, in Memphis, Tenn.
The Colonels finish with an overall record of 20-7, while Trinity improves to 21-6 overall. The Tigers will meet the winner of the Southwestern University - the University of the South-Sewanee game.
Junior center Reggie Magnusson led the Colonels with a game-high 23 points in 29 minutes of action. Junior forward Coy Zerhusen added 16 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
Four Tigers finished in double-figures, led by Sean Devins 20 points, nine rebounds and seven blocks. Peter Murray added 19 points and eight rebounds. Andy Bates scored 14 points and Chad Stroberg notched 11 points.
A Bates jumper at the 17:13 mark in the first half gave Trinity its first lead of the game at 5-4. Centre would not lead again. With the Colonels down 13-10, Trinity outscored Centre 20-9 to take a 33-19 lead with just over four mintues remaining. Centre finished the half on a 14-7 run to get within 40-33 at the break.
Trinity opened the second half with a 9-2 run to push the lead back to 14 points (49-35). The Colonels would get no closer than seven points the remainder of the way.
Centre shot only 35.3% (12-34) from the floor in the second half and finished the game shooting 39.4% (26-66). Trinity shot 50.0% (25-50) for the game, including 22 of 26 from the free throw line.
The Colonels' 20-7 record and 74.1% winning percentage are the best since the 1988-1989 team finished 24-7 (77.4%) and went to the Final Four.
Newspaper Box Score Centre College vs Trinity University 02/26/05 5 p.m. at Mallory-Hyde Gymnasium - Memphis, Tenn. At Mallory-Hyde Gymnasium - Memphis, Tenn. TRINITY UNIVERSITY 80, CENTRE COLLEGE 61 CENTRE COLLEGE (20-7) Reggie Magnusson 10-22 2-2 23; Coy Zerhusen 8-16 0-0 16; Thomas Britt 3-9 1-1 9; Kyle Roby 2-4 0-0 6; Matt Jacobson 1-5 1-2 3; Matt Nestheide 1-4 0-0 2; Adam Patterson 1-2 0-0 2; Kyle Christopher 0-1 0-0 0; Josh Bell 0-2 0-0 0; John Patterson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-66 4-5 61. TRINITY UNIVERSITY (21-6) Sean Devins 6-12 7-7 20; Peter Murray 7-9 4-6 19; Andy Bates 4-8 5-6 14; Chad Stroberg 3-7 2-2 11; Ross Burt 2-4 1-1 6; Mitch Walker 1-3 2-2 5; Jason Morris 2-6 0-0 4; Jay Riola 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 25-50 22-26 80. Centre College................ 33 28 - 61 Trinity University............ 40 40 - 80 3-point goals-Centre College 5-16 (Kyle Roby 2-4; Thomas Britt 2-4; Reggie Magnusson 1-1; Matt Nestheide 0-2; Adam Patterson 0-1; Josh Bell 0-1; Matt Jacobson 0-3), Trinity University 8-19 (Chad Stroberg 3-6; Mitch Walker 1-3; Sean Devins 1-1; Ross Burt 1-2; Andy Bates 1-2; Peter Murray 1-2; Jason Morris 0-3). Fouled out--Centre College-None, Trinity University-None. Rebounds-Centre College 35 (Coy Zerhusen 9), Trinity University 32 (Sean Devins 9). Assists-Centre College 14 (Kyle Roby 5), Trinity University 18 (Chad Stroberg 6). Total fouls-Centre College 18, Trinity University 7. A-450 2005 SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament - First Semifinal