Men's Basketball Wins a Dog Fight Against Neumann Knights

On February 12, the Centenary Cyclones, who stand at a 9-13 overall record but a 3-6 conference record, hosted the Neumann Knights for an Atlantic East Conference matchup. The Knights came into play with an overall record 16-5 and 7-1 in conference. The last time these two teams matched up the Knights triumphed in victory with a final score of 85-57 on January 15. The Cyclones look to change their fortune against a dominant Donte Dupriest and the rest of the Knights. 

Knights Come Out Swinging Their Sword

This Atlantic East matchup had everything in store for those in attendance. The Neumann Knights came into play with a dominant force to be reckoned with, star forward Dupriest. Dupriest was dealt with on the defensive end thanks to an elite defensive force from Cyclones Jasir Lane. 

Dupriest came into play averaging double digit figures in rebounds and points but his double double streak came to an end when he stepped into the Cyclones storm. The Knights had to get their source of offense from somewhere else and DJ Earl, senior guard, answered the call. 

Earl put up 28 points, 23 of which came in the second half, while making four of his team's six three point shots. Neumann was moving up and down the court with lightning quick speed, but the Cyclones did not back down from the team that defeated them by 30 plus points a month ago. 

Weather Forecast For Second Half: Cyclone Tsunami 

Entering the second half the Cyclones trailed by a deficit of seven, 39-32. It was safe to say that the majority of the offense was provided in this second half of this ball game for the Clones. The Cyclones shot 1-13 from three point land in the first half. Justin Carbone had something to say about that as he hit three of his five attempts beyond the arc in crucial time. 

Overall, the boys shot 5-7 in the second half which was what they needed to win this game. With about four minutes left in the game the Cyclones were battle tested when the teams top scorer on the season, Kenneth Rankin fouled out with 13 points scored on the night. But this young group of men once again looked adversity in the eye and said, “Let’s ball.” 

Carbone hit some crunch time shots while Darnelle Forrest, former Knights basketball player and current Cyclone, was having an amazing revenge game against the school he once transferred from. Yet let me introduce you to the hero of Wednesday night's ball game. With ten seconds on the shot clock Forrest got a screen from rebounding machine center, Lane and Forrest threw up a floater. 

When the shot hit the back rim and went out, Lane tipped the ball to the corner and ladies and gentleman, Naire Preston. Preston caught the ball with four seconds left, took two dribbles, used his poetry in motion footwork to weave in and out of defenders to get the right handed floater to go off the bank and in the hoop with .4 seconds left on the clock. 

The Cyclones pulled off the victory by a final score 86-82 and got a huge conference win to help them with playoff seeding with only a few games left in the regular season. Carbone hit the two dagger free throws after Neumann head coach Jim Rullo was assessed with a technical foul after Preston hit the floater to make the score 84-82. 

Notable Players:

Neumann Knights:

DJ Earl: 28 Points 

TJ Lewis: 21 Points, 5 rebounds 

Donte Dupriest: 8 points, 16 rebounds, 5 assists 

Centenary Cyclones: 

Darnelle Forrest: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists 

Justin Carbone: 18 points, 2 assists 

Kenneth Rankin: 13 points, 7 rebounds 

Naire Preston: 10 Points, 4 rebounds, Game Winner 

Come out and support the cyclones at their next game. As always, roll clones!