SHREVEPORT, LA. — The University of St. Thomas men's basketball team rallied back from an early deficit to secure a 68-58 victory over Centenary, improving their overall record to 21-2 and conference record to 13-1.

The Gents came out with an early surge, quickly building an 11-4 lead. However, Angel Johnson sparked the Celts with a layup, and Gavin Davis followed up with a three-pointer, cutting the deficit to 17-14. Centenary worked hard to maintain the lead, but UST continued to battle. With just two minutes left in the first half, Johnson made another layup to bring the Celts within one, 27-26. Andrew Adebo then scored on a tip-in and added two free throws, putting St. Thomas up 30-29 heading into halftime.

The second half was a back-and-forth affair with multiple lead changes. Nathan Kongolo tied the game at 39 with a jumper, but the Gents quickly regained the lead. A few possessions later, Adebo's layup gave UST a 49-48 advantage. The teams traded baskets throughout the half, and with three minutes remaining, Ricky Altamirano hit a clutch jumper to give the Celts a 61-58 lead. Adebo followed with a layup and a pair of free throws, extending the lead to 64-58. The Celts sealed the win by continuing to execute in the final moments, taking control of the game.

Andrew Adebo was a key contributor for the Celts, finishing with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 free throws on 7-of-12 shooting. Angel Johnson also had a strong performance, contributing 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists while shooting 50% from the field. Charles Gitonga added 10 points and 7 rebounds, while Ricky Altamirano chipped in with 7 points, including a crucial jumper in the final stretch. Nathan Kongolo had a solid all-around game with 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Up Next
This win concluded the final road game of the season for the Celts. They will now return home to prepare for a matchup with Trinity on February 21 at 7:30 p.m. Follow @ustmbasketball on Instagram and visit ustcelts.com for the latest updates.