HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – After securing the number one seed for the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) playoffs, the Centenary men's basketball team begins its playoff push on Wednesday, Feb. 26.
The top seeded Cyclones will welcome No. 4 Wilson to the John M. Reeves Student Recreation Center for a 7 p.m. tip. There will be an admission for the playoff games. Cost will be $5 (adults), $3 (children under 12), and FREE to CU students, faculty and staff (w/ ID), veterans and senior citizens.
The Cyclones are making their second straight appearance in the CSAC Tournament and eighth overall. Centenary will be looking for its first CSAC Tournament win since the 2014-15 season.
The Cyclones come into the CSAC Semifinals with a 17-8 record overall and have tied the 1996 squad for the most wins in a single season at Centenary.
Centenary is led by CSAC Player of the Year Chris LaBelle and CSAC Rookie of the Year D'Angelo Blackmond. LaBelle is averaging a CSAC best 22.3 points per game and is also contributing 5.7 rebounds per game and has dished out a team-best 124 assists. The junior guard broke five school records this season and a CSAC mark. Blackmond is contributing 11.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.
Forwards Tom Weiler and Billy Veras each earned Second Team All-CSAC accolades. Weiler leads the CSAC while averaging 8.2 rebounds per game and is also contributing 11.7 points per game. Veras ranks second on the team in points (15 ppg) and rebounds (7.9 rpg).
Wilson is 10-15 on the year and has lost three straight entering the playoffs. The Phoenix are led by Rashaan Bean, who is averaging 13.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. Adrian Thomas is contributing 12.6 points per game with 62 assists.
Centenary won both meetings between the two schools in the regular season. When the two teams met in Chambersburg in December, Wilson held a 45-43 lead at the half, but the Cyclones battled back for the 87-86 win. LaBelle led Centenary with 26 points, including the 1,000th of his career, while Zachary Powell led Wilson with 24 points. When the two squads met in Hackettstown in January, the Cyclones opened up a 19-point halftime advantage and claimed an 81-74 win. Veras had 24 points while Bean led Wilson with 19.
The winner of Wednesday night's contest will take on the winner of the Cairn/Rosemont semifinal in the CSAC Championship game on Saturday, Feb. 29.
