Beirut Defeat Central, 83-73
Beirut pulled away for a convincing 83-73 D1M win over Central at Central on Sunday, January 18. Albert James English led the charge for Beirut with a game-high 40 points.
Central took a 48-34 lead into halftime, but Beirut mounted a stunning second-half comeback, outscoring Central 49-25 after the break. The fourth quarter was the decisive stretch, with Beirut outscoring their opponents 36-9 to swing the momentum in their favor.
The game featured several highlight plays. The game featured 6 dunks in total, with K. Wooten (Central) throwing down a powerful slam in the first quarter. A. English (Beirut) connected from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. K. Wooten was a force on the defensive end with 4 blocks.
Albert James English was the undeniable star of the game, finishing with 40 points, 4 rebounds in 40 minutes of action. He shot 11-of-26 (42%) from the field, 6-of-15 (40%) from three-point range, 12-of-15 (80%) from the free-throw line. Daniel Dominique Hamilton provided valuable support with 16 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists.
Beirut also generated 14 second-chance points and 20 fast-break points, capitalizing on every opportunity.
Beirut held a significant edge in field goal shooting at 32% compared to Central's 48%. From beyond the arc, Beirut connected on 8-of-34 (23%) while Central managed just 2-of-16 (12%). Beirut also had the advantage at the charity stripe, converting 27 free throws to Central's 19.
Central committed 26 turnovers compared to Beirut's 14, leading to 18 points off turnovers for Beirut. Beirut was in control for much of the game, putting together a 12-0 scoring run.
The biggest momentum shift came when Beirut put together a 12-0 run in the fourth quarter, leaving their opponents scrambling to respond.
Down the stretch, Beirut came up clutch when it mattered most. D. Hamilton nailed a clutch free throw with 00:15 remaining to help seal the victory.
For Central, Anyeuri Castillo was the standout performer in defeat with 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals. Kenny Wooten added 10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks, but their combined efforts were not enough to turn the tide.