DePauw Knocks off 17th-ranked Centre

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DePauw shot 54 percent in the second half and overcame a four-point halftime deficit on the way to a 65-63 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference win at 17th-ranked Centre.

The Tigers improved to 14-7 overall and 9-3 in the SCAC, while the Colonels dropped to 15-4 overall and 10-2 in the SCAC. The win was DePauw's first in Danville since February 22, 2002.

DePauw used a 13-2 run in the first half to turn a four-point deficit into a seven-point advantage at 17-10. The Colonels later finished the half with an 8-2 stretch to take a 29-25 lead at the break.

Neither team led by more than three points until DePauw's Ryan Russell hit a jumper with 6:13 left to give the Tigers a 53-49 lead. Centre was still within two before the Tigers pushed the lead to 60-55 on Steve Lemasters' three with 3:38 remaining.

Centre's Greg Ross trimmed the margin to 60-57 with a bucket at the 2:03 mark, but Ryan Sever hit a free throw with 28 seconds left to give DePauw a 61-57 lead.

Jeff Mullaney's layup with 19 seconds remaining closed the gap to 61-59 and Lemasters knocked down a free throw with 17 seconds left to make it a three-point game.

Centre's Colin Lopez cut the lead to 62-61 on a layup with 10 seconds remaining, but the Tigers' Tommy Weakley made two free throws with eight seconds left to push the lead to 64-61. 

DePauw fouled Mullaney who made two free throws to again make it a one-point contest and Weakley made one charity toss with six seconds left which gave the Tigers a 65-63 lead. Donovan Whiteside's potential game-winning three-pointer was off the mark and Sever secured the win with the rebound.

Sever paced DePauw and matched a career high with 17 points, while Sean Haseley and Steve Lemasters each added 11. Four different Tigers grabbed four rebounds apiece and Ross Simpson led the way with three assists.

Greg Ross led Centre with 21 points, while Mullaney followed with 15 and Whiteside 13. Lloyd grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds as the Colonels held a 32-29 edge on the boards. Lloyd also blocked four shots in the loss.