CONWAY, Ark. -- The league's top defensive unit came as advertised as University of St. Thomas held Centenary College to the fewest points ever in a SCAC tournament game and cruised to a 64-34 victory in the first semifinal matchup of the 2026 SCAC Men's Basketball Tournament Saturday afternoon at Grove Gymnasium on the campus of Hendrix College. Official Tournament Website | Men's Tournament Stats

The fifth-ranked Celts came into the game ranked ninth in the nation in scoring defense and Saturday's outing did nothing to lower their ranking. St. Thomas held Centenary to 23.6 percent shooting (13-55) from the field, which included 13.6 percent (3-22) from distance.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Over a nine minute stretch midway through the first period, St. Thomas went on a 15-2 run and held Centenary to 1-for-13 shooting over that span, to take a 26-11 lead and an eventual 33-16 margin into the half, the Celts' largest lead to that point.
• St. Thomas, the league's best scoring defense, held Centenary to 24.1 percent shooting (7-29) in the first half, including just 10.9 percent (1-10) from three-point range.
• The Celts continued to extend their lead to open the second period, holding the Gents scoreless the first 7:53 minutes, and led 45-16 before Centenary finally took the lid off the bucket with a made jumper by Quentin Beverly.
• Centenary was never able to get it going in the second half and never got closer than 26 points the rest of the way as St. Thomas earned the 30-point victory.

UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Corey Thompson: 11 points, 8 rebounds
• Brennan Webb: 11 points, 4 rebounds
• Nicholas Buffalo: 10 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
• Reyce Allen: 5 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists

NOTABLE

• The defending tournament champions, St. Thomas advances to the SCAC championship game for the second consecutive year and fourth time in program history. 
• The Celts are 3-0 all-time in the championship game (2021, 2022 and 2025 championships). 
• St. Thomas improves to 8-2 in SCAC tournament play.

UP NEXT

St. Thomas (25-1), ranked fifth in the nation, advances to Sunday's SCAC men's title game where they will take on the winner of LeTourneau and Concordia (Texas) with tip-off scheduled for Noon CT.