2007 SCAC MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
QUARTERFINAL ROUND

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Second-seeded Centre College jumped out to a 41-21 halftime lead and never looked back, defeating seventh-seeded Southwestern University 63-43 in the first men's quarterfinal of the 2007 SCAC Basketball Tournament Friday afternoon at Memphis University School.

Southwestern's Micah Salinas hit a three-pointer on the Pirates' second possession of the game to give this team an early 3-0 lead, but Centre's Matt Nestheide responded with a three of his own on the following possession and the Colonels never trailed again.

Nestheide had a game-high 18 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the field, including 6 of 7 from three-point range, to pace Centre.

The junior guard set the tempo for the afternoon, nailing four attempts from beyond the arc in the first 4:31 of the contest.

Matt Jacobson added 12 points as 10 different Colonels played double-digit minutes. Thomas Britt had a team-high six boards for Centre and Jacobson and Nestheide each had five.

Mike Powell led Southwestern with 11 points and six rebounds.

Southwestern ends its season with an 11-15 mark while Centre advances to tomorrow's semifinal round.

The Colonels (21-4) will play the winner of Millsaps and Hendrix at  5 p.m. on Saturday at Rhodes College.