WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Penn College men's basketball opened up its season 1-0 after downing the visiting Centenary Cyclones, 74-64, on Wednesday night inside Bardo Gymnasium. The Wildcats are 1-0 while dropping the Cyclones to 0-1.

How it happened: The Wildcats found themselves down 35-31 at the break and used a strong 43-point second half while holding Centenary to just 29 for the victory. Penn College pulled ahead three minutes into the second frame with a Livingston Cross layup before the two sides battled through five ties and seven lead changes over the next 10 minutes.

A pair of DJ Smith III free throws at the 6:32 mark put the Wildcats up for good with the score at 61-60. Three-straight Max Jackwoski buckets and a Smith III lay-in stretched the 'Cats lead to five (69-64) with just over two minutes to play as stifling defense did the rest to earn the win.

Centenary controlled the first half as the Cyclones were able to build as much as a 13-point lead (30-17) with five minutes remaining in the opening half before the Wildcats clawed back within striking distance after the first 20 minutes of action. Smith III accounted for nine of the last 14 points to give PCT a chance to close the distance.

Inside the box: Penn College shots 48.3% (28-58) as Smith III finished with a team-best 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting a 8-for-11 at the line. Gavin Barrett just missed a double-double with 14 points and nine assists and Livingston Cross added 12 points and eight boards.

Kenneth Rankin led the Cyclones with 21 points.

Up next: Penn College returns to action Friday, Nov. 10 at 5 p.m. when the Wildcats host Penn State Mont Alto.