Up 45-32, John Patterson, who had nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds, started the run with a free throw. Matt Nestheide, who scored 13 points to lead Centre, and Rob Matthews each hit 3-pointers and scored five points during the run.
"I thought we did a good job on the boards. John Patterson was very energetic tonight," Mason said.
Matt Jacobson scored seven of 10 points and had three of his game-high five assists in the second half. He did not commit a turnover during the period.
"Matt Jacobson had a good second half. He created some opportunities for his teammates to get some open shots when we went on that big run," Mason said.
For the game, Centre shot 52.6 percent on 30 of 57 shooting and made 12 of 23 free throws.
9-for-19 from long range
Jacobson and Adam Patterson each hit two 3-pointers and Nestheide nailed three as Centre went 9-for-19 from long range.
The Colonels' defense limited the Saints to 32 percent shooting in the second half (10-for-31) and 41.5 percent for the game. Centre also forced 22 turnovers and allowed just six Thomas More assists.
"That's a sign were defending pretty well," Mason said.
Centre took control early. Patterson's layup with 13:38 left in the first half put Centre up 14-4. The Colonels maintained between a nine- and 14-point lead the rest of half and had a 37-25 lead at intermission.
"In the first half I thought defensively, the stats don't prove it, but I thought we did a good job," Mason said. "But again, we weren't rewarding ourselves with knocking down opportunities."
Thomas More got within 10 points to start the second half, but Centre led 43-27 on Coy Zerhusen's putback and took a 20-point lead on Matthews' jumper with 8:52 remaining.
"It was nice to get that cushion early," Nestheide said. "They're a young team and still trying to find themselves, and it's good to have that early lead so you can play with that lead and really not have to play a grueling game like you normally would."
R.K. Thurman was 8-for-13 from the floor and scored a game-high 21 points with seven rebounds to lead Thomas More. The other starters were a combined 3-for-15 shooting with six points, 11 turnovers, four assists and eight rebounds.
Turnovers concern Mason
And while Centre forced plenty of turnovers Tuesday, it was the Colonels' miscues that had Mason concerned.
"We had 18 assists and 19 turnovers. We're last in the conference, and last pretty significantly, in assist-to-turnover ratio," Mason said. "We need to start making more plays for our teammates. We're not selfish, we're just not making plays."
And that number, he says, has to improve with a tough road trip ahead this weekend.
Centre plays at Hendrix (9-8) on Friday and at Rhodes (10-8) on Sunday.
"Both teams have significantly improved from last year," Mason said. "Any time you go on the road, it's just so tough."
THOMAS MORE (1-17)
R.K. Thurman 8-13 5-7 21; E.J. Haynes 2-6 0-2 4; Garry Horton 0-5 0-1 0; Ed Thornton 0-1 0-0 0; Brandon Bolden 1-3 0-0 2; Mason O'Hara 1-5 0-0 2; Michael Selm 1-1 0-0 3; Jeremy Abell 0-3 0-0 0; Brett Durham 0-0 2-3 2; Brad Cutter 2-4 0-0 4; Mark Lucas 5-7 2-2 13; Matt Tierney 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 22-53 9-15 55.
CENTRE (11-5)
Matt Jacobson 4-7 0-2 10; Coy Zerhusen 2-3 2-4 6; Reggie Magnusson 3-9 2-4 8; Thomas Britt 2-7 0-0 4; Matt Nestheide 4-6 2-2 13; Kameron McRay 1-1 0-1 2; Stuart Rutledge 2-3 0-0 4; Kris Bentley 0-1 0-0 0; Rob Matthews 3-4 0-0 7; Ryan Crowdis 0-2 0-0 0; Kyle Christopher 1-3 0-0 3; T.C. Thomason 1-3 3-5 5; Adam Patterson 2-3 2-3 8; Beau Braden 1-1 0-0 2; John Patterson 4-4 1-2 9.
Halftime-Centre 37-25. 3-Point Goals-Thomas More 2-8 (Horton 0-2, Bolden 0-1, O'Hara 0-1, Selm 1-1, Abell 0-1, Lucas 1-2), Centre 9-19 (Jacobson 2-3, Britt 0-4, Nestheide 3-4, Bentley 0-1, Matthews 1-1, Crowdis 0-1, Christopher 1-1, Thomason 0-1, Patterson 2-3). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Thomas More 29 (Thurman 7), Centre 37 (J. Patterson 19). Assists-Thomas More 6 (Bolden 2), Centre 18 (Jacobson 5). Total Fouls-Thomas More 18, Centre 16. A-250.
