Offense Cold in SCAC Opener at Centenary
SHREVEPORT, La. – The University of Dallas men's basketball team dropped its first Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) game, 57-39, to Centenary College on Tuesday afternoon on the road. The Gents (3-6, 1-0 SCAC) jumped out to a double-digit lead in the first half and countered a UD run in the second half to pull away in the league opener for both sides.
Dallas (1-7, 0-1 SCAC) scuffled offensively with a season-low in scoring that came from 30 percent (12-40) from the field and 20 percent (4-20) from three-point territory. After being down 35-17 at the break, both teams would score 22 points in the second half. The Crusaders cut the deficit to nine (42-33) about midway through the period, but the offense went cold again the rest of the way with just six made free throws for the remaining points for the guest.
The Crusaders got on the board first with a jumper from John Russell (Bossier City, La.) about 30 seconds into action. Centenary would take the lead for good as Kahrri Carter answered with a layup and was fouled for the old fashioned three-point play. The Gents went up 8-4 after a trey from Carter, who garnered a game-high 17 points.
A pair of free throws from Joshua Nunn (St. Louis, Mo.) narrowed the gap to 8-6 with about five minutes gone by. Centenary received back-to-back three's from Prentis Washington and Ty Prince to spark 16 straight points for the home team. A layup by Mitchell Tarantolo at 11:49 gave Centenary its first double-digit lead (16-6) with eight points on three consecutive possessions. Prince had the other eight points on the outburst with a pair of trifectas and a jump shot to cap the run at 8:22.
Russell ended the scoreless stretch for UD with a jumper a minute later. Down as many as 18 with seven to play, a three-pointer by Dustin Mathis (Fort Worth, Texas) and layup by Logan Fruhwirth (Waynesville, Ohio) reduced the score to 26-13. It was an 18-point deficit at intermission after Centenary finished with nine of the next 13 points over the last five minutes of the stanza.
After an early basket for the Gents to start the second, 10 points in a row for Dallas got the road team in striking distance less than six minutes into the half. Fruhwirth made two free throws and followed a Nunn trey with one of his own. Nunn swiped a steal and finished a fastbreak layup on his own to finish the hottest span of offense that afternoon for the Crusaders.
Dallas got the score to single-digits one time at 10:04 on a layup by Russell, but that was the final field goal of the game for that side.
Fruhwirth scored 11 of his career-high 13 points in the second half, which included the final six Dallas points coming at the free throw line in the final 10 minutes. The junior went 8-for-10 at the charity stripe in the half and for the game. Russell added 11 points. Michael Wambsganss (Denver, Colo.) pulled down a game-high and personal-best nine rebounds. The bench was held scoreless.
Dallas did shoot 11-of-14 (78.6 percent) from the free throw line and picked up seven of its nine steals in the second half. The Crusaders also forced 11 Centenary turnovers in that half alone, but were victims of 22 for the entire game.
The Gents picked up 15 steals overall and used a 13-4 edge in fastbreak points and 21-16 advantage on points off turnovers. The Maroon and White won the battle on the glass, 33-27, and dished 15 assists compared to nine for the opponent.
Centenary shot 40.7 percent from the field and 41.7 percent in three-pointers with 10 made. The Gents were 3-of-4 at the line with few chances as UD was called for seven fouls all game. Carter led a trio of double-digit scorers thanks to 7-of-13 from the floor. Treylan Matthews contributed 12 points, tied a team-high six boards, and passed five dimes. Prince rounded the trio out with 11 points. Carter and Prince joined Matthews with the top rebounding totals on the team.
Dallas last scored fewer than 50 points in a game and conference matchup during the 2012-13 season at Trinity University (Jan. 4) in a 76-46 result.
UP NEXT
Dallas is back on the court tomorrow for a quick turnaround at the Maher Center versus Austin College with a 4 p.m. tip.