Men's Basketball Rival Night: Centenary Vs. Gwynedd Mercy

The men’s basketball team at Centenary University battled Gwynedd Mercy University in the John M. Reeves Recreational Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 8 p.m.

This was the second basketball game hosted during Centenary’s Rival Night. By that time, the basketball court was crowded with attendants and basketball players from both colleges, preventing anyone from walking out of the court without bumping into one another.

The Cyclones’s last two victories were 72-57 against the College of Mount Saint Vincent in the Bronx on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, and an 80-67 victory against Fairleigh Dickinson University in Florham Park, NJ on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023.

“All we want is effort,” said Chris LaBelle, interim head coach and former player for Centenary men’s basketball team.

During both of the two halves of the game, the Cyclones faced challenges keeping up with the Griffins.

The Cyclones had a rocky start during the first half. While the Griffins were able to secure 43 points, the Cyclones scored 30 points. There was still hope for Centenary to defeat Gwynedd Mercy before the game ended.

“We’re a very young team,” added LaBelle, “So we’re trying to get them to keep getting better every single day.”

The second half; however, did not go the way things planned. To the dismay of the crowd cheering for Centenary, the Cyclones added 35 points to their tally, whereas, the Griffins captured 49 points. By the end of the game, Gwynedd Mercy secured their victory against Centenary, who lost 65-92.

“Our primary rival is Gwynedd Mercy,” said LaBelle, “We seem to have  tough competition against them.”

Centenary men’s basketball last competed against Gwynedd Mercy on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, at 8 p.m. By the end of that tournament, Centenary lost 80-97 to Gwynedd Mercy.

The men are now 2-21 overall.

The following men’s game was at Neumann University in Aston, PA on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, at 1 p.m. Centenary’s previous men’s basketball home game, which was against Marywood University, took place on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, at 8 p.m., in which they lost 78-88.

Good luck, Cyclones!