Recap: Strong 2nd Half Powers Men Past Centurions

BLUE BELL, Pa. - Shaakir Gibbs scored 21 points and Ryan Brennan and Kanen Horton each added 19 as the men's basketball team defeated the Centurions of Bucks County Community College, 86-79, in Region XIX action Thursday evening.

Brendan Watton registered a team-high five steals and Kevin Wooods poured in 14 points and dished out a team-high five assists in leading the Mustangs to their seventh win of the season and second in their last three games.

Montgomery trailed 38-33 at halftime and by as many as nine points in the second half. But a turnover-producing press defense combined with some timely shooting allowed the Mustangs to overtake the Centurions and secure the win.

"The guys did a much better job in the second half of just bearing down and executing," said Head Men's Basketball Coach Denny Surovec.

In the end the game was decided by free throws. And Montgomery was near perfect -- making 22 of 26 from the foul line. Thirteen of Gibbs' points came via the foul line as he drew the attention of the Bucks' defenders with his tenacious drives in the paint.

Brennan, meanwhile, was in the zone from beyond the arc -- accounting for 15 points on five-of-nine shooting from three-point range. He drained three of those as the Mustangs staged their second-half rally.

"Hopefully we can build on this for the rest of the season," Surovec said.

Wins have been hard to come by this season for Surovec and his squad. But the team has showed remarkable determination and resilience despite being shorthanded with its roster, especially in the second half of the season.

Playing its third game without key first-year player Anthony Patterson, Montgomery found a way against a reeling Bucks team which came into the game losers of four straight.

Patterson, who has had success at both ends of the floor with his rebounding, watched as a committee led by Brennan (7) controlled the glass at both ends. Gibbs, Horton and Nicko Balis each pulled down five rebounds apiece.

The Mustangs will look to win their second straight game -- a feat they have yet to accomplish this season -- when they host the Jaguars of Johnson College in a 2 pm tip-off on Saturday.

- By Bob Kent, Sports Information Director