HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. (Dec. 10, 2016)- Led by four starters scoring in double figures, the Centenary University men's basketball team recorded its second straight victory with a 88-85 overtime defeat of FDU-Florham on Saturday afternoon.

Junior Rashaan Spencer (Hackettstown, N.J. / Mount Olive) totaled 20 points and four assists for the Cyclones who improve to 6-4 overall. Anthony Mitchell finished with 26 points, six assists, five rebounds and three assists for the Devils who fall to 3-4 overall.

After FDU took an early 7-6 lead, the Cyclones used a 20-5 run to take their largest lead of the game at 24-11 with 10:16 remaining in the first half. The Devils responded with a 20-8 run over the final 10 minutes to trail by just one at 32-31 at halftime. Donte Ali led all scorers with 12 points and eight rebounds in the opening stanza.

In the second half, Centenary regained the lead behind the play of senior Paul Jones (Trenton, N.J. / Ewing), senior Kyle Smith (Warwick, N.Y. / Burke Catholic), sophomore Tom Weiler  (Old Bridge, N.J. / Bishop George Ahr) and sophomore Jake Logue (Manahawkin, N.J. / Southern Regional) as the quartet combined for 33 of the Cyclones 40 points. Centenary held a 68-58 advantage with 3:51 remaining, when the Devils were forced to call a timeout.

FDU responded out of the timeout with a 14-4 run over the final 3:51, including 10 points from Mitchell. Mitchell sank the game tying free throws with two seconds remaining to eve the game at 72-72 and force overtime.

The extra session belonged to Spencer, who led all scorers with nine points. Despite FDU best effor to force a second overtime, Centenary went 9-for-12 from the free throw line and iced the game.

Jones finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals, while Logue added 13 points and eight rebounds. Weiler went a perfect 4-for-4 in the second half and finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Smith made three triples and finished with 11 points, while senior Zachary Duymich (Millstone Township, N.J. / Allentown) finished with nine points, nine assists, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks. Ali finished with 21 points 12 rebounds, while Veon Lassiter added 11 points.

Spencer needed 22 points to become the seventh player in school history to score 1000 points, but came up two points short in the three point victory.

Head Coach Tim Fusina and the Cyclones will return to action in New York, N.Y. on Monday, Dec. 12^th against the Bloodhounds of John Jay College at 7:00 p.m.