SEGUIN â€" Texas Lutheran battled back from a nine-point second-half deficit and cut the Centenary lead to just one with four minutes to go, but that's the closest the Bulldogs and their two-game winning streak would get. Centenary would hold on for a 76-71 win inside Memorial Gymnasium on Friday night.
 
After falling behind by nine, the Bulldogs' largest deficit of the night, with a little more than 11 minutes to go, TLU grinded its way back into the game, cutting the Centenary advantage to just one after a Robert Watson Jr. free throw with 3:57 remaining.
 
With the score at 66-65, Centenary would get six straight points from Jonathan Blount to pull away again and keep the Bulldogs from grabbing their third straight win.
 
The loss dropped Texas Lutheran's record to 7-11 overall and 2-6 in the SCAC, while the Gents moved to 9-8 overall and 4-3 in the SCAC.
 
Watson Jr. (Corpus Christi, Texas) finished with a team-high 15 points to go along with a season-high five steals. He's been a wrecking ball on defense lately, averaging four steals per game over the last three.
 
After three straight games of scoring at better than 50 percent from the field, the Bulldogs' offense was held in check Friday, shooting 36.7 percent on the night and making just 1-of-11 from three-point range.
 
Blount, who came into Friday leading the SCAC in scoring by averaging a little less than 22 points per game, basically hit his average, scoring 22 on the night, including 13 in the second half to lead the Gents.
 
The Bulldogs controlled much of the first half, forcing seven Centenary turnovers while only turning it over twice themselves. Eventually, the Bulldogs built a lead as large as eight after a Watson Jr. steal and fast-break layup. Leading 23-15 with seven minutes to go, TLU couldn't finish the half as strong as it would have liked, allowing Centenary to work its way back to a 34-34 tie at the half.
 
While the Bulldogs' ball control was a positive factor in the first half, the second half was a different story as they turned it over 12 times. Centenary took advantage, scoring 15 points of those 12 turnovers.
 
Friday's scoring was balanced for TLU with three other players joining Watson Jr. in double figures. Both Joseph Richardson and Garrett Wilkins scored 13 while Jordan Kouremetis scored 10.
 
Fouls played a prominent role in the game, with the two teams combined to be called for 59 fouls. The Bulldogs took advantage, recording season highs in both made free throws (34) and attempts (43).
 
Texas Lutheran is back in action tomorrow with another SCAC contest at home. The Bulldogs will match up against Austin College at 4 p.m. looking to repeat last week's 93-71 win over the 'Roos. Live video and live stats will be available via TLUBulldogs.com.