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Basketball: Centre opens with win in Berea tourney

November 19, 2006

BEREA - Centre College rallied in the second half to defeat Berea 82-66 for the championship of the season-opening Pepsi/Sodexho Invitational.

The Colonels trailed 41-36 at halftime before coming from behind.

"The final score was not indicative of how close this game was," Centre coach Greg Mason said. "I thought we really grew up as a team in the second half."

Matt Nestheide scored 26 points to lead Centre (2-0) and earn the tournament's most valuable player award. He had 40 points and 11 assists in two games.

"We ask so much of Matt, but he's a go-to player, and he stepped up when we really needed him," Mason said.

The Colonels also got a boost from T.C. Thomason, who had 13 points, seven rebounds and five steals, and two reserves stepped up in the second half as well.

Ryan Crowdis compiled 10 points, five assists and only one turnover after taking over at two-guard for Thomas Britt, who left after suffering a separated shoulder in the first half. He was 8-for-12 at the free-throw line for Centre, which was 26-for-39.

Freshman Danny Noll added 11 points and three rebounds, going 5-for-11 from the field.

Center John Patterson battled foul trouble in the second half but had six points, five rebounds and three blocked shot and made the all-tournament team.

TheColonels shot 45 percent from the field but made only four of 16 3-point attempts against Berea (3-2). Both of those numbers were well below their totals in their 84-60 win over Virginia-Wise on Friday, when Centre shot 60 percent (28-for-47) from the field and hit 13 of 21 3-point tries.

"We shot as well as we've shot in a game in a couple of years," Mason said.

Matt Jacobson had 18 points and Patterson had 15 of the Colonels' 30 rebounds against Virginia-Wise.

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