Sophomore guard Thomas Britt scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Centre College men's basketball team to a 79-67 season-opening win over Asbury College, Friday, Nov. 18, in Wilmore, Ky.
Britt looked like he was in mid-season form connecting on eight of his 11 shots from the floor, including six of six from long distance and three of three from the charity stripe. The sophomore guard also added five rebounds and three steals.
The Colonels shot only 35.3% (12-34) from the field in the first half, but made all 12 free throw attempts in the half to take a 37-34 lead into halftime. Asbury shot 45.2% (14-31) in the first period but attempted only four free throws, making two of them.
Centre didn't fare much better in the second half shooting only 36.1% (13-36), but the Colonels did hit on seven of their 13 three-point attempts and nine of their 12 free throw attempts to outscore Asbury 42-33 in the second period.
Centre shot only 35.7% (25-70) for the game, compared to Asbury's 42.6% (26-61), but the Colonels made eight of their 21 three-point attempts (38.1%) and 21 of their 24 free throw attempts (87.5%).
Senior forward Coy Zerhusen posted 13 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the year. Senior center Reggie Magnusson also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Junior forward Matt Jacobson was only one point shy of another double-double, scoring nine points to go along with a game-high 11 rebounds.
Centre will return home for its 2005-06 home-opener, Tuesday, Nov. 22, when the Colonels play host to Maryville College (Tenn.). The game will follow the women's contest, which starts at 6:00 pm., and begin at 8:00 p.m. It will also be Community Appreciation Night as the first 100 fans 18 years old or younger will receive a free Centre Basketball t-shirt.
Newspaper Box Score Centre College vs Asbury College 11/18/05 7:30 p.m. at Wilmore, KY At Wilmore, KY CENTRE COLLEGE 79, ASBURY COLLEGE 67 CENTRE COLLEGE (1-0) Thomas Britt 8-11 3-3 25; Coy Zerhusen 6-16 1-3 13; Reggie Magnusson 3-13 4-4 10; Matt Jacobson 4-9 0-1 9; Matt Nestheide 1-7 6-6 8; Stuart Rutledge 1-3 5-5 7; Kyle Christopher 1-3 0-0 3; John Patterson 1-4 0-0 2; Beau Braden 0-2 2-2 2; Adam Patterson 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 25-70 21-24 79. ASBURY COLLEGE (5-5) Matt Pittman 5-6 4-6 14; Travis Spann 5-13 0-0 11; Dusty Reidesel 3-4 2-2 10; Mark George 4-12 1-1 9; Johnny Leep 4-10 0-2 9; Derek Bland 2-10 0-0 5; Zach Mefford 1-1 2-2 5; Brett Johnson 2-5 0-0 4; Michael Spann 0-0 0-0 0; Ben Spann 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-61 9-13 67. Centre College................ 44 42 - 86 Asbury College................ 34 33 - 67 3-point goals-Centre College 8-21 (Thomas Britt 6-6; Kyle Christopher 1-3; Matt Jacobson 1-3; Matt Nestheide 0-5; Adam Patterson 0-1; Reggie Magnusson 0-1; Coy Zerhusen 0-2), Asbury College 6-19 (Dusty Reidesel 2-3; Travis Spann 1-5; Zach Mefford 1-1; Derek Bland 1-7; Johnny Leep 1-3). Fouled out--Centre College-None, Asbury College-None. Rebounds-Centre College 44 (Matt Jacobson 11), Asbury College 40 (Travis Spann 9; Brett Johnson 9). Assists-Centre College 3 (Matt Jacobson 1; Kyle Christopher 1; Stuart Rutledge 1), Asbury College 9 (Johnny Leep 3). Total fouls-Centre College 15, Asbury College 20. A-357