After starting the conference season 0-2, the Centre College men's basketball team has rebounded to win five of its last six Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference games, including an 88-81 win over Rhodes College, Sunday, Jan. 29, in Memphis, Tenn.
The Colonels, which have now won four straight and six of their last seven games, improve to 13-5 overall and 5-3 in the SCAC. Rhodes, having lost four straight, and seven of its last eight games, falls to 10-9 overall and 2-6 in league play.
The game was close for much of the first half. Neither team led by more than four points until sophomore guard Thomas Britt nailed three consecutive three pointers to give Centre an eight-point lead (29-21) at the 6:59 mark.
After a Justin Long three pointer cut the lead to 34-30 with 3:31 to play in the first period, Centre went on an 8-2 run to close the half and take a 42-32 lead into the intermission.
The Colonels controlled the second half, but Rhodes did make a run late in the game using an 11-3 run to make the score 77-74 with just over two minutes left in the game. From there, the Colonels outscored Rhodes 11-7 to end the game with a seven-point win.
Four players scored in double figures for the Colonels, led by senior center Reggie Magnusson's 22 points, five rebounds and three assists. Sophomore guard Matt Nestheide posted 21 points, six rebounds and two assists. Britt finished with 16 points and senior forward Coy Zerhusen added 11 points.
Rami Almefty paced the Lynx with a team-high 20 points. Joe Thompson scored 18 points. Matthew Jakes posted 13 points and a game-high seven rebounds and Joey Daley added 12 points and three blocks in the loss.
Centre will return home for its next game. The Colonels will host Millsaps College, Friday, Feb. 3. The SCAC contest will be played as part of a men's/women's double header and will begin at 8:00 p.m. in Danville, Ky.
Newspaper Box Score CCMB0506 vs Rhodes College Men 01/29/06 1pm at Mallory Gym At Mallory Gym CCMB0506 88, RHODES COLLEGE MEN 81 CCMB0506 (13-5 (5-3)) Reggie Magnusson 8-16 5-8 22; Matt Nestheide 5-10 8-9 21; Thomas Britt 5-9 2-2 16; Coy Zerhusen 5-6 1-2 11; T.C. Thomason 3-5 0-0 6; Matt Jacobson 2-7 1-1 5; Rob Matthews 1-3 2-2 5; John Patterson 1-1 0-0 2; Stuart Rutledge 0-1 0-0 0; Adam Patterson 0-1 0-1 0. Totals 30-59 19-25 88. RHODES COLLEGE MEN (10-10 (2-7)) Rami Almefty 7-14 5-6 20; Joe Thompson 7-16 2-2 18; Matthew Jakes 5-12 2-3 13; Joey Daley 5-8 0-0 12; Justin Long 2-4 1-2 7; Cory Smith 1-4 4-4 6; Justin Strong 2-6 0-0 5; Blake Wilson 0-0 0-0 0; Pearson Weems 0-0 0-0 0; Jeff Blumenthal 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-64 14-17 81. CCMB0506...................... 42 46 - 88 Rhodes College Men............ 32 49 - 81 3-point goals-CCMB0506 9-21 (Thomas Britt 4-5; Matt Nestheide 3-5; Rob Matthews 1-3; Reggie Magnusson 1-1; Matt Jacobson 0-5; T.C. Thomason 0-2), Rhodes College Men 9-22 (Joey Daley 2-4; Joe Thompson 2-9; Justin Long 2-4; Matthew Jakes 1-1; Rami Almefty 1-2; Justin Strong 1-1; Cory Smith 0-1). Fouled out--CCMB0506-None, Rhodes College Men-Joey Daley. Rebounds-CCMB0506 28 (Matt Nestheide 6), Rhodes College Men 35 (Matthew Jakes 7). Assists-CCMB0506 14 (Thomas Britt 3; Reggie Magnusson 3), Rhodes College Men 10 (Joe Thompson 4). Total fouls-CCMB0506 16, Rhodes College Men 22. A-300