HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – The Centenary University men's basketball team ran its win streak to five straight games with an 82-80 win over Hunter College on Monday afternoon. The Cyclones had eight players score at least two points in the game and that group was led by junior Chris LaBelle, who tallied a game-high 26 points.

"We played a solid team that shared the ball well," said interim head coach Jason Geleski. "Hunter gave us all we wanted today. I am very pleased how our squad executed down the stretch to get the 'W' in crunch time. We had a solid effort from multiple contributors. Great team effort!"

The Cyclones jumped out to a 6-2 lead on a jumper from sophomore Billy Veras at 17:26.

Hunter responded by scoring 12 of the next 14 points and took a 14-8 lead with 13:30 to go until the half. Jared Brown scored five points during that run.

Sophomore Samad McMillan hit a bucket at 12:41 that started an 14-2 run for the Cyclones. That turned a six-point deficit into a 22-16 lead with 9:27 remaining in the period. LaBelle had four during that scoring spurt for the home team.

A pair of free throws from freshman D'Angelo Blackmond at 7:23 gave the Cyclones a 28-19 lead.

The two teams traded points on each end of the court as LaBelle's bucket in the paint at 4:28 gave Centenary its largest lead of the game, 34-23.

The Cyclones and Hawks continued to battle as a pair of late free throws sent Centenary into the half with a 38-34 lead.

The home team scored six of the first 10 points in the second half and led 44-38 with 17:44 to play. Veras had four of those six tallies.

A Blackmond bucket at 13:13 put the Cyclones up, 53-43.

The two teams traded points as a pair of free throws from George Keener cut the Centenary lead ot three, 56-53 with 10:01 to play in the game.

An 8-2 run by the home team pushed the Cyclones' advantage back to nine, 64-55 with 8:47 showing on the clock. Freshman Owen Roberts III and graduate student Tom Weiler each had three points in that stretch.

The two teams traded points as a triple from Roberts III gave Centenary a 73-65 lead with 4:34 remaining.

Hunter cut the Centenary lead to three, 76-73 with a Keener three-pointer at 2:56.

The Cyclones quickly pushed their lead back to six, 79-73 on a Weiler triple just 16 seconds later.

Hunter scored seven of the next nine points in the game and cut the Centenary lead to one, 81-80 with 53 seconds to go. Gio Gabbidon had five points in that stretch.

The Cyclones got the ball back with eight seconds to go following a Hunter turnover. LaBelle got fouled and made one of two from the foul line to give Centenary the 82-80 edge.

Hunter had one last chance, but Keener's shot wouldn't fall and the Cyclones claimed victory.

The Cyclones shot a solid 52.6 percent from the field and went 17-for-24 from the foul line. Hunter posted a 49.1 field goal percentage and knocked down 10 three-pointers. Centenary won the rebounding battle, 33-29.

LaBelle led the Cyclones with 26 points, it was his seventh game this season with 25 or more points. The junior was aided by going 10-for-14 from the foul line, it was the fifth time this season he has made at least 10 free throws in a contest. He added five assists and two rebounds in the game.

Veras finished with 15 points and six rebounds while Roberts III came off the bench to contribute 13 points. Weiler led the Cyclones on the boards as he had seven rebounds and eight points.

Keener led Hunter with 20 points.

The Cyclones are back in action on Saturday, Jan. 4 when they travel to Brooklyn College for a 1 p.m. game.