GWYNEDD VALLEY, Pa. – Trailing by five with 4:04 to go in the second half, the No. 6 Centenary University men's basketball team manufactured a 13-5 run to close out the game and claimed a 66-63 win at No. 3 Gwynedd Mercy University in the first round of the Atlantic East Tournament playoffs.

With the win, the Cyclones advance to the semifinals where they will visit No. 2 Neumann on Wednesday, Feb. 23.

The two teams went back-and-forth early in the first period as a three-pointer from Matt O'Connor gave the Griffins a 10-6 lead at the 15:43 mark.

A jumper from Ty Jones at 14:23 put the home team on top, 14-10.

Centenary responded with an 8-0 run of its own and took an 18-14 lead with 12:12 to go until the half. Chris LaBelle had a pair of jumpers in that stretch for the Cyclones.

Five straight points from Jaye'lyn Peebles put the Griffins up 24-20 with 7:53 showing on the clock.

The Cyclones and Griffins traded points as a big three-pointer from Trevor Giordano gave the visitors a 31-30 edge at 3:42.

Gwynedd Mercy scored four of the final six points in the half and took a 36-35 lead at the break.

The Cyclones and Griffins traded points to open the second half as Billy Veras had a lay-up at 17:06 that gave the Cyclones a 41-40 lead.

Giordano's triple at 15:16 gave Centenary a 46-42 lead in the game.

Gwynedd Mercy reeled off 10 straight points and took a 52-46 lead with 10:11 to play in the game.

The two squads continued to battle on both ends of the court as a Harrison Lucibello jumper at 7:52 cut the Gwynedd Mercy lead to three, 54-51.

A pair of free throws from Jones at 4:04 pushed the Griffins lead back to five, 58-53.

Centenary responded with a 9-0 run and turned a five point deficit into a 62-58 lead with 1:01 to play in the game. LaBelle had a pair of pick buckets and the run was capped by a steal and a driving lay-up from Lucibello.

Centenary went 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final 30 seconds to hold off the Griffins and claim the 66-63 win.

Centenary shot 40% from the field and was a solid 14-for-15 from the foul line in the game. Gwynedd Mercy shot 39.1% from the floor and was 10-for-15 from the foul line. Centenary won the rebounding battle, 39-31.

LaBelle led the Cyclones with 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists while Veras added 13 points and 10 rebounds. Poueriet chipped in 12 points and eight rebounds.

O'Connor led Gwynedd Mercy with 16 points.

Centenary visits Neumann on Wednesday night.