HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – Sophomores Chris LaBelle and Emmanuel Doh combined for 27 points to lead the Centenary University men's basketball team in their season opener against Gwynedd Mercy University on Saturday afternoon.

Before the game, the Cyclones and Griffins took a moment to honor veterans, active military members and their families as Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. The colors were presented before the game by members of the Henry Vinton Plummer Chapter of the 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Association, known as the Buffalo Soldiers. Head coach Damian Pitts' father is a member of the group.

Centenary took an early 3-2 lead on a three-pointer from freshman Billy Veras. Gwynedd Mercy used a 14-2 run to take a 16-5 lead with 14:02 to go in the half. Donoven Spencer scored four points sandwiched around a bucket from Doh as the Griffins led 25-11 with 10:48 to go in the stanza.

Centenary used an 8-0 run to pull to within ten, 32-22 with 5:39 left in the half. LaBelle had a pair of buckets in that scoring stretch. Gwynedd Mercy closed out the first half strong and took a 46-27 lead at the break.

Senior Tom Weiler drained a three-pointer to open the second half for the Cyclones. The Griffins scored the next 11 points in the game and pushed their lead to 57-30 with 15:20 to play.

Weiler's second triple of the day started a 9-4 run by the Cyclones. LaBelle went 4-for-4 from the foul line during that stretch but the Cyclones trailed 61-39 with 11:36 to play. The two teams continued to battle for each point for the next several minutes in the game.

Centenary closed the game on a 15-2 run that encompassed the final 4:33 of the game. Freshman Divine Anderson had five points during that scoring stretch while sophomore Larry Joseph contributed four points. Despite the later run, Gwynedd Mercy claimed the 80-62 win.

Gwynedd Mercy shot 56.6 percent from the field and was 15-for-19 from the foul line. The Cyclones posted a field goal percentage of 44 percent and was 12-for-16 from the charity stripe. The Griffins held a 31-25 advantage in the rebounding battle.

LaBelle finished with 16 points, five assists and three steals for the Cyclones while Doh had 11 points and four rebounds. Joseph contributed nine points and eight rebounds while Weiler contributed eight points in his return after missing most of last year due to injury.

Courtney Cubbage led Gwynedd Mercy with 18 points while Rich Dunham added 14 points and nine steals.

The Cyclones return to the court on Saturday, Nov. 17 as they head north to take part in the Hamilton College Tournament. Centenary will take on Hamilton on day one at 4 p.m.