Centre Wins Third Straight SCAC Men's Basketball Championship

The Centre College Colonels survived a furious DePauw University second half comeback attempt and earned the school's third straight Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship with a 75-63 win over rival DePauw. Box Score

With the win, the Colonels (21-5, 13-3 SCAC) earn the SCAC's automatic bid to the 2011 NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Championship.

Appearing in the SCAC championship game for a sixth-straight year, Centre won its fourth championship in that span thanks to a 23 point performance from junior forward Greg Ross. Ross, the tournament's MVP, broke the SCAC tournament scoring average by scoring 23.7 points per game. Sophomore guard Bryon Ellis joined Ross on the All-Tournament team.

Against DePauw, Ross scored 23 points on 7-for-13 shooting and added eight rebounds. Sophomore teammate Bryon was 3-of-3 from beyond the arc and finished the tournament shooting a remarkable 84.6 percent from 3-point range (11-of-13 total).

Centre jumped out a commanding 34-18 lead thanks in large part to outstanding shooting and superb defensive effort. The Colonels connected on 14-of-23 from the field (60.9 percent) and limited a DePauw offense to 6-of-24 from the floor (25 percent).

The second half was a different story as the Tigers (19-9, 12-4 SCAC) shot over 62 percent (18-of-29) and trimmed Centre's lead to three with seven minutes remaining in the game. DePauw couldn't quite comeback as Centre was too much down the stretch.

The Tigers were led by junior Sean Haseley's 20 points and 10 rebounds. Ryan Sever chipped in with 14 points on 6-of-12 shooting. Both Haseley and Sever were named to the All-Tournament team. Oglethorpe senior guard Joe Kennedy rounded out the All-Tournament team performers.

After the game SCAC Sports Information Director Jeff Debaldo caught up with both head coaches along with sophomore guard Bryon Ellis and junior forward Greg Ross of Centre.

To listen to DePauw head coach Bill Fenlon, click here.

To listen to sophomore guard Bryon Ellis of Centre, click here.

To listen to junior forward Greg Ross of Centre, click here.

To listen to Centre head coach Greg Mason, click here.