Antonine Overcome Central, 89-79
Antonine pulled away for a convincing 89-79 D1M win over Central at Central on Wednesday, October 22. Clint Chapman led the charge for Antonine with a game-high 23 points and 12 rebounds. The lead changed hands 13 times before Antonine eventually pulled away for good.
Antonine took a 45-42 lead into halftime. The fourth quarter was the decisive stretch, with Antonine outscoring their opponents 23-13 to swing the momentum in their favor.
The game featured several highlight plays. K. Wooten (Central) threw down a powerful dunk in the second quarter, one of 3 dunks in the game. G. Cosey (Antonine) connected from beyond the arc in the second quarter during a crucial stretch. J. El Khatib was a force on the defensive end with 12 blocks.
Clint Chapman was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 23 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks in 26 minutes of action. He shot 8-of-15 (53%) from the field, 7-of-9 (78%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. The team was a remarkable +20 with him on the floor. Ricky Ledo provided valuable support with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, including 4 three-pointers. Glenn Cosey also chipped in with 17 points off the starting lineup.
Antonine's bench was a major factor, contributing 15 points off the pine. Antonine also generated 11 second-chance points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Antonine at 45% and Central at 47%. From beyond the arc, Antonine connected on 11-of-28 (39%) while Central managed just 6-of-23 (26%).
Antonine dominated the boards 41-33, including 13 offensive rebounds that led to extra possessions.
Down the stretch, Antonine came up clutch when it mattered most. G. Cosey nailed a clutch free throw with 00:40 remaining to help seal the victory.
Despite the result, Anyeuri Castillo showed his quality for Central, contributing 26 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 4 blocks. Donte Mcgill added 27 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.