Centre College went to a zone defense with about 17 minutes to play and that enabled the Colonels to come from behind to beat Rhodes College 70-55 here Sunday.
Centre (14-3) trailed 33-29 at halftime before outscoring Rhodes 41-22 in the second half to get what coach Greg Mason called one of the “sweeter” wins of the year.
“Rhodes is very good and swept us last year, something a conference team had not done since 2004,” said Mason. “There were big implications for the conference tournament with this game and it was a big win for us. We are starting to slowly get a little more national recognition now.”
Mason said 6-5 point guard Andrew Galow, who had 14 points, was a big matchup problem for Centre and one reason the Colonels went to the zone.
“He will be an all-American and could be conference player of the year.¿He can score and pass. He’s athletic and just a heck of a player,”¿Mason said. “We had a game plan to go man to man and tried that for about 23 minutes, but Rhodes was a little too good to give the same look. At the 17-minute mark, we went zone. It was not perfect, but it slowed down Galow enough.”
Centre also got to the foul line 27 times in the second half and went 30 of 36 at the foul line compared to 9-for-17 for Rhodes (11-8).
Blake Scinta returned after missing six weeks with an injury and had 15 points — he was 11-for-13 at the foul line — and eight rebounds.
“He was only supposed to play 18 minutes, but he played 23. He was very good and active. He is so skilled down on the block,” Mason said.
Byron Ellis had 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting along with four rebounds and no turnovers. “He is so dependable and is easily our best defender,” Mason said.
The coach also praised guard Matt Griggs, who had seven points.
“His numbers were not big, but he came in about the 18-minute mark and really picked our energy up. We had a really good flow when he was in the game,” Mason said.
Centre got 36 points from bench players and Mason said the “total team effort” was outstanding.
MEN
CENTRE COLLEGE 70, RHODES COLLEGE 55
RHODES COLLEGE (11-8, 7-1 SAA): Andrew Galow 5-11 4-7 14, Michael Gallagher 4-11 0-0 12, Ryan Van Hoeck 2-5 0-0 6, Geoff Livsey 2-4 1-2 6, Theo Hartwell 2-7 2-3 6, Patrick McGrail 2-6 0-0 6, Drew Miller 1-6 1-3 4, Tate Sledge 0-2 1-2 1, Matt Wagner 0-1 0-0 0, Alex Vicarisi 0-0 0-0 0, Reid Cates 0-0 0-0 0, Kevin Chien 0-1 0-0 0, Luke Collins 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 18-55 9-17 55.
CENTRE COLLEGE (14-3, 7-1 SAA): Blake Scinta 2-6 11-13 15, Bryon Ellis 5-10 0-0 13, Donovan Whiteside 2-4 8-8 12, Holden Hertzel 2-5 3-3 7, Matt Griggs 1-4 4-4 7, Collin Lopez 2-4 2-2 7, Tyler Wesley 2-3 2-6 6, Josh Karsner 1-4 0-0 3, Taylor Newsome 0-1 0-0 0, Chris Taylor 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 17-42 30-36 70.
Halftime—Rhodes 33, Centre 29. 3-point goals—Rhodes College 10-31 (Michael Gallagher 4-11, Patrick McGrail 2-5, Ryan Van Hoeck 2-4, Drew Miller 1-3, Geoff Livsey 1-1, Kevin Chien 0-1, Luke Collins 0-1, Andrew Galow 0-5), Centre College 6-20 (Bryon Ellis 3-7, Matt Griggs 1-4, Josh Karsner 1-4, Collin Lopez 1-2, Donovan Whiteside 0-1, Blake Scinta 0-2). Fouled out—Rhodes College-Drew Miller, Patrick McGrail, Centre College-None. Rebounds—Rhodes College 32 (Drew Miller 10), Centre College 38 (Tyler Wesley 9). Assists—Rhodes College 11 (Andrew Galow 6), Centre College 7 (Donovan Whiteside 2). Total fouls—Rhodes College 25, Centre College 18.
WOMEN
RHODES COLLEGE 71, CENTRE COLLEGE 66
RHODES COLLEGE (16-1, 8-0 SAA): Catherine Eckert 6-10 2-4 16, Lauren Avant 5-20 2-3 13, Sarah Womack 4-9 0-0 11, Sarah Johnson 2-13 4-6 10, Dy'nelle Todman 2-6 5-5 9, Natalie Goodrum 2-5 0-0 4, Amy Handelman 2-5 0-0 4, Madison Butler 1-3 0-0 3, Mary Barber 0-3 1-2 1, Katherine Hall 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-75 14-20 71.
CENTRE COLLEGE (8-10, 6-2 SAA): Chelsea Benham 5-9 12-15 22, Paige Baechle 9-19 1-1 19, Hillary Moore 2-7 2-2 8, Maggie Hartlage 2-7 1-2 6, Mary Stough 1-1 2-2 4, Mary Winstead 1-2 0-0 3, Jenna Mire 1-2 0-0 3, Bridget Winstead 0-5 1-2 1, Alexis Guy 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 21-52 19-24 66.
Halftime—Centre 31, Rhodes 28. 3-point goals—Rhodes College 9-28 (Sarah Womack 3-7, Catherine Eckert 2-2, Sarah Johnson 2-8, Madison Butler 1-3, Lauren Avant 1-5, Natalie Goodrum 0-1, Dy'nelle Todman 0-2), Centre College 5-17 (Hillary Moore 2-4, Maggie Hartlage 1-4, Jenna Mire 1-1, Mary Winstead 1-2, Bridget Winstead 0-5, Chelsea Benham 0-1). Fouled out—Rhodes College-Sarah Womack, Centre College-Chelsea Benham, Paige Baechle. Rebounds—Rhodes College 43 (Lauren Avant 13), Centre College 45 (Chelsea Benham 14). Assists—Rhodes College 16 (Sarah Johnson 7, Lauren Avant 7), Centre College 10 (Paige Baechle 4). Total fouls—Rhodes College 22, Centre College 20.
