UMKC 62, Centenary 57

ByABC News
February 5, 2014, 10:49 AM

— -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Michael Watson scored 22 points as Missouri-Kansas City beat Centenary 62-57 Saturday night. Reserve guard Javon Clark tied a career high with 16 points for the Kangaroos (7-7, 3-1 Mid-Continent Conference), who won for the third consecutive time. Clark didn't score in the first half but was instrumental in bringing UMKC back after the Kangaroos fell behind 34-22 after a fast-break basket by Rickey Evans with 18:15 left. After Evans' basket, the Kangaroos went on a 9-0 run and cut the margin to 34-31 on a 3-point shot from the corner by Clark. The Gents (7-6, 2-1) led 47-40 with 8:32 left, but Clark hit two 3-point shots as the Kangaroos took a 49-47 lead and held on. UMKC was 7-of-8 from the free-throw line in the last 35 seconds. Watson was 8-of-17 from the field, and the 6-foot, 1-inch senior grabbed eight rebounds, one off his career high. Mike English had 11 points and a game-high nine rebounds for UMKC, which held Centenary to a season-low 57 points. The Gents' Andrew Wisniewski scored eight points, 12 below his season average. Michael Gale scored 13 points to lead Centenary, and Derek Sallis added 12.