HACKETTSTOWN, NJ – Centenary College has been putting up big numbers all year.

The Cyclones, ranked tops out of 409 Division III teams in terms of points per outing, have already cracked the triple digit barrier twice this season and have surpassed the 90 point margin in five outings. In fact, only twice has Centenary failed to reach the 80-point plateau, no-doubt making the group one of the most dreaded to face from a defensive perspective.

Although the Crimson Eagles managed to somewhat contain and even frustrate Centenary’s explosive offensive abilities throughout the opening 20 minutes, PBU’s defensive unit could only watch as the Cyclones’ went off for 48 second half points that included a 45 percent shooting clip during the back end of play. When the smoke cleared, the host squad walked away with an 86-56 triumph, extending their longest winning streak in program history to nine games.

For the Crimson Eagles, it marks the second time in seven days that PBU has surrendered 86 points, which, before last Tuesday against Gwynedd-Mercy College, hadn’t happened to the group in nearly seven full years.

Centenary kicked things off by opening up a 27-8 through the first ten minutes of play, which included a 13-0 spurt over a three minute span. The Cyclones would swell their advantage to as big as 31-11 with eight minutes remaining, but a scrappy Crimson Eagle squad refused to conceded closing out the half on a 15-7 run to bring the deficit to 38-26 at the break.

It was as close as PBU would get the rest of the way. The Cyclones would slowly extend their advantage - their biggest lead of the night coming with 3:56 left at 80-48 - as PBU coughed up the ball 15 times in the second period alone and hit just 44 percent (11-25) of their free throw takes for the game.

Perhaps the most crushing statline was the lopsided discrepancy in turnovers for the day as PBU’s 33 blunders led to a 34-11 edge in points off TO's for Centenary for the game. After beginning the season 3-3, the loss marks the Crimson Eagles fifth straight.

Senior guard Summer Mullen pumped in a season high 22 points on 10 of 18 shooting for the game while sophomore forward Careth Herron recorded career highs in both points and rebounds with 12 and six, respectively. Third-year guard Dani Norton added 11 points and nine rebounds.

The Crimson Eagles will return to the court this Thursday to take on the College of Notre Dame in the Mason Activity Center at 6:00 pm.