HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — The Pratt Institute men's basketball team erased an 11-point halftime deficit to take a late lead, but a last-second layup by Centenary University sealed a heartbreaking 65-63 loss for the Cannoneers in an Atlantic East Conference battle on Wednesday night.
Pratt (10-10, 2-7 Atlantic East) was paced by senior Mekhi Davis (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who scored a team-high 16 points to lead four Cannoneers in double-digit scoring.
The first half saw host Centenary (8-12, 6-3 Atlantic East) build a double-digit advantage, using a hot-shooting start connecting on 60 percent (18-of-30) to take a 42-31 lead into the locker room.
The gold-and-black stormed back in the second half, clamping down on defense and methodically chipping away at the deficit. A jumper by Davis capped a 14-2 run to give Pratt its first lead of the half, 47-46, with just under 13 minutes to play. The game remained a back-and-forth battle from there, with neither team leading by more than a two possessions.
Late in the frame, Davis scored five straight, tying the game at 60-60 with a triple and driving into the lane for a floater to put Pratt up 62-60 with 2:27 remaining. Kurt Thomas (Dallas, Texas) split a pair from the line for a 63-60 lead, but the Cyclones tied it with a three-pointer with just over a minute to play. With the game still tied and Centenary with the final possession, Kenneth Rankin scored the game-winning layup with 2.7 seconds left and the Cannoneers couldn't get off a good look at the buzzer.
Thomas finished with 13 points and two rebounds. Thomas Graetz (Sydney, Australia) added 11 points, while Elijah Fermaint (Orlando, Fla.) scored 10. Thomas Prendergast (Bayport, N.Y.) and Trey Phillips (Phoenix, Ariz.) were strong on the glass, each pulling down eight rebounds.
Rankin led all scorers with a game-high 22 points for Centenary, while Jasir Lane recorded a massive double-double with 11 points and 18 rebounds as all five Cyclone starters reached double figures and scoread all but one point.
After four straight on the road, Pratt returns home to the ARC on Saturday, Feb. 7, for a conference matchup against Marywood University. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. in a doubleheader following the women at 1 p.m.
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