IPFW defeats winless Centenary 83-51

2010-12-30 20:17:00 PST Shreveport, LA 71100, United States — (12-30) 20:17 PST Shreveport, La. (AP) --

Ben Botts hit eight 3-pointers and scored a career-high 30 points and IPFW defeated winless Centenary 83-51 on Thursday night in Summit League play.

Botts, who came in leading the Mastodons at 13.6 points a game, was 10 of 15 from the field and 8 of 12 from beyond the arc — also a career high.

IPFW (9-4, 4-0), which has won two in a row, trailed the Gentlemen (0-15, 0-4) by five early, then closed the first half on a 20-3 run to lead 41-22.

A 16-3 spurt gave the Mastodons their largest lead, 65-32. They shot 55.2 percent (16 of 29) in the second half.

Frank Gaines added 11 points and Jason Smeathers and Jeremy Mixon had 10 each for IPFW.

Aaron Harwell scored 13 points and fellow freshman Quin Cooper had 10 — both career highs — for Centenary, which shot only 55.6 percent (15 of 27) from the free-throw line.

The Mastodons outrebounded the Gentlemen 42-31.