HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – Playing its first game in 29 days, the Centenary College men's basketball team was defeated 54-50 by Neumann in Colonial States Athletic Conference play Wednesday night at the John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center.
 
The Knights (8-4, 3-2 CSAC) scored the game's first six points, but Centenary battled back, gaining a 15-11 lead following freshman guard Kyle Smith's (Warwick, N.Y./Burke Catholic) long three-pointer.
 
The contest remained close throughout the remainder of the half and featured four ties and three lead changes. Reggie Coleman drained a pair of free throws just before halftime to knot the score 26-26 after 20 minutes.
 
Junior guard Djovan Beausejour (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) paced the Cyclones during the early minutes of the second half, scoring seven-straight points to lift CC in front 35-30.
 
Kevin Green gave the Knights their first lead of the final stanza with a triple, igniting a 14-0 run for Neumann that spanned 6:53. Beausejour stopped the surge with a three of his own and later brought Centenary within five with a fast-break layup.
 
Sophomore point guard Clayton Roker (New City, N.Y./Clarkstown South) sank a pair of free throws, making the score 53-48 with 1:22 to play and freshman guard Zachary Duymich (Millstone Township, N.J./Allentown) collected a steal and fast-break layup, cutting the deficit to three 19 seconds later.
 
However, Centenary was held off the scoreboard during its final three possessions as the Knights pulled out the four-point victory.
 
Beausejour paced Centenary with 16 points and grabbed six rebounds, while senior forward Joshua Case (Catasauqua, Pa./Catasauqua) chipped in eight points, 11 boards and six blocked shots.
 
Centenary made 34 percent (19-56) of its field goal attempts and held a slight edge on the glass, 40-39. Neumann connected on 39 percent (22-56) of its shots from the floor.
 
Mark Blount recorded a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double to lead the Knights, while DeShawn Lowman added 13 points, six rebounds and four steals.
 
Centenary faces a stiff test on Saturday when it travels to Radnor, Pa., to face fourth-ranked Cabrini at 4:00 pm.