HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – Chris LaBelle and Billy Veras combined for 30 points to lead the Centenary University men's basketball team but a strong second half allowed Neumann University to pull away for the 86-51 win in Atlantic East action on Monday night.

Neumann had the hot shooting hand early in this one as the Knights opened up a 20-8 lead on TJ Lewis' jumper at 12:47.

Trailing 26-15, Centenary used a 7-0 run to pull to within four, 26-22 with six minutes to go until the half. LaBelle scored five of the seven in that stretch.

A jumper from Lewis at 2:16 pushed the Neumann advantage to 32-23.

Centenary scored four of the final six points in the period but the visitors took a 34-27 lead at the break.

Neumann opened the second half on a 9-0 run and pushed its advantage to 43-27 with 17:35 to go in the game.

The Knights were able to maintain that double-digit advantage for the remainder of the second half and eventually claimed the 86-51 win.

Centenary shot 30.4% from the floor and connected on 14-of-22 chances from the foul line. Neumann had the hot shooting hand as it posted a 55.7% field goal percentage and was 5-for-9 from the foul line. The Knights held a 48-30 edge in the rebounding battle.

LaBelle finished with a team-high 20 points, two rebounds and three assists for the Cyclones while Veras had 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds.

Jalen Vaughns led Neumann with 28 points and 13 rebounds.

Centenary is back in action when it travels to Cabrini on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m.