Three Double-digit Scorers Lead Gents to Victory over Tennessee-Martin

SHREVEPORT, LA – Three players hit double figures as the Centenary Gents defeated the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks 78-66 at the Gold Dome on Tuesday night (Jan. 2, 2001). It was the first home game for the Gents since November 21.

Senior guard Ronnie McCollum led the charge, scoring 35 points on 11 of 19 shooting and 10 of 11 from the free throw line, plus 3 of 6 from three-point range. Joining him in double digits were junior point guard Kevin Atamah, who had 13 on 11 of 12 shooting at the line, and sophomore guard Shohn Williams, who had 11 points and nine rebounds, narrowly missing his second double-double of the season.

Tennesee-Martin had three players in double figures, with Robert James scoring a career-high 17 points. He was joined by Michael Jackson and Hayden Prescott with 12 points apiece.

Freshman guard Michael Gale nabbed nine points and six  rebounds, and reserve junior point guard Warren Harris contributed eight points in only 14 minutes for the Gents.

Free throw shooting was the key, as the Gents (3-9) were 29 of 37 from the line for 78.4 percent to only 11 of 16 for the Skyhawks (4-5).

Centenary head coach Kevin Johnson attributes this win to the tough early-season schedule his team faced.

“With all of the tough competition we faced early, it made us that much better prepared for a team more on our level,” said Johnson. “It was good for us to get a win and play at home, and I thought our guys showed a lot of toughness on defense and on the glass.”

Remarkably, both teams shot the same percentages in the first and second half, as each managed 43.5 percent in the first half and 50 percent in the second. For the game, UTM outshot the Gents 46.9 percent to 46.8. Centenary managed to out-rebound UTM by a 34-23 margin.

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