Antranik Beat Central, 90-83
Antranik held off a competitive Central squad to claim a hard-fought 90-83 D1M victory at Demerjian Center on Wednesday, January 7. Majur Majak led the charge for Antranik with a game-high 16 points and 18 rebounds. The lead changed hands 12 times before Antranik eventually pulled away for good.
Antranik took a 48-34 lead into halftime. The first quarter was the decisive stretch, with Antranik outscoring their opponents 20-13 to swing the momentum in their favor.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 8 dunks in total, with M. Majak (Antranik) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. M. Khoury (Central) connected from beyond the arc in the third quarter. K. Wooten was a force on the defensive end with 15 blocks.
Majur Majak was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 16 points, 18 rebounds, 2 assists, 7 blocks in 40 minutes of action. He shot 6-of-10 (60%) from the field, 4-of-5 (80%) from the free-throw line. The double-double effort underlined his all-around impact on the game. Christian Brown provided valuable support with 33 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists. Gabriel Salibi also chipped in with 11 points off the starting lineup.
Both teams shot similarly from the field — Antranik at 41% and Central at 38%. From beyond the arc, Antranik connected on 7-of-26 (26%) while Central managed just 13-of-30 (43%). Antranik also had the advantage at the charity stripe, converting 21 free throws to Central's 14.
Central committed 15 turnovers compared to Antranik's 8, leading to 10 points off turnovers for Antranik. Antranik owned the paint with 44 points inside to Central's 24. Antranik was in control for much of the game, building a lead of up to 19 points.
Down the stretch, Antranik came up clutch when it mattered most. J. Gambrell JR. nailed a key basket with 00:02 remaining to help seal the victory.
In a losing effort, Donte Mcgill fought hard for Central, finishing with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists. Kenny Wooten added 12 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.