HACKETTSTOWN, NJ—Another conference road game, another gut-check for the Keystone College men's basketball team Thursday evening.

Only this time, the Giants made the plays that mattered most, turning back Centenary College, 84-80, in Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) action.

Junior guard JT Bennett (Kansas City, Kan./Washington) led Keystone with 19 points, junior guard Mark Perry (Harrisburg, Pa./Steelton Highspire), playing in his first game since transferring from Millersville University, finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, and sophomore guard Perry Belcher (Orlando, Fla./Colonial) and senior guard Mark Gilliam (Philadelphia, Pa./High School of the Future) added 15 points apiece as the Giants snapped a two-game skid to improve to 6-7 overall and 5-2 in league play.

Centenary, which fell to 3-10 overall and 1-6 in the CSAC, was led by freshman forward Larry Joseph with 18 points and freshman guard Chris LaBelle and senior guard Rashaan Spencer contributed 15 apiece.  Senior guard Hamp Smith and freshman guard Michael Young chipped in 13 points apiece for the Cyclones, who led 44-39 at the break but failed to score again after opening up a six-point advantage, 80-74, with 2:35 remaining.

With the game on the line, Perry took over for the Giants.  He ignited the game-winning 10-0 run with back-to-back lay-ups and freshman guard Jaylen Nuckles (Corning, N.Y./Corning) followed his lead with lay-ups at the 1:26 and 0:20 marks, respectively, as Keystone took the lead for good.  Bennett sealed it in the closing seconds with a pair of free throw to cap off his 19-point effort.

Defensively, the Giants came up with 12 steals and pressured the Cyclones into 15 turnovers.  In addition, Keystone held Centenary to 30.3 percent shooting from the field in the second half after Centenary scorched the nets for nearly 55 percent in the first half.

In 15 minutes of action, Perry connected on 7 of 9 shots from the field and had two steals to go along with his seven rebounds and 16 points.  He kept the Giants within striking distance in the first half by connecting on five of six shots from the field to finish with 10 points.

Keystone returns home Saturday to host Rosemont College in CSAC action at 1:00 p.m. in the Gambal Athletic Center in LaPlume.
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