Kentucky - 36 (Head Coach: John Mauer) - [Final Rank ]

Player	Pts
Hays Owens	8
Cecil Combs	15
Paul McBrayer	6
Paul Jenkins	3
Lawrence McGinnis	1
Elmer Gilb	0
Stanley Milward	3
Claire Dees	0
Totals	36

Centre College - 23 (Head Coach: Boise Potthoff)

Player	Pts
Marida Maggard	3
Kelly Deaton	3
Moco Staley	6
Paul O'Neil	5
Jimmy Goings	0
Mason Knuckles	6
Kenneth Marshall	0
David Hamilton	0
Michael Sayers	0
Herald Purdom	0
Norman Dakin	0
Totals	23

Kentucky Defeats Centre Five, 36 to 23

Owens, Combs Lead Attack of Wildcats: Latter High Scorer

DANVILLE, Ky., Jan. 9. -- A sustained attack for one half by the Kentucky basketball team was sufficient to trim the Centre College Colonels, 36 to 23, here tonight in the first 1928 contest between the two bitter athletic rivals.

The Wildcats played beautiful ball for the first half and were leading the Colonels, 20 to 9, at the end of this period. They appeared stale in the second stanza, however,and allowed Centre to slip uncomfortably close once during this half.

Kentucky was first to score, Owens slipping under the basket for a field goal in the first minute of the game. Maggard was fouled and made his throw good and Staley dropped one in from the foul line, giving Centre a 3 to 2 lead. This was the first and last time in the contest, however, that the Colonels held a margin over the Blue quintet. Combs and Owens began an assault on the basket soon after which gave Kentucky a 20 to 9 lead at the end of the half.

Centre seemed inspired at the start of the second half, and played Kentucky on even terms the rest of the game. Kentucky's offense did not function properly and Centre penetrated the Cats' defense for many easy shots.

For Kentucky Owens and Combs were the outstanding players. The latter was high point man of the game with 15. Owens played a remarkable floor game -- much improved over his effort against Berea at Lexington a week ago. He followed the ball nicely and got the majority of his shots in this manner.

Staley and Knuckles led Centre's offense, with six points each.

Centre will leave Thursday for a trip through the Missouri Valley, meeting Earlham and Lombard Colleges, Northwestern, Ohio State and Loyola, of Chicago.

Game Writeup - Kentucky Kernel

Wildcats Defeat Centre Five 36-23

Playing a game that was marked with decided improvement over last week the Wildcats forced the Centre Colonels to take the short end of a 36 to 23 score in the game played at Danville Monday night.

Although the Cats were playing at a great disadvantage because of the small court of the Colonels, they managed to slip through the Colonel's defense for 25 points during the first half, and held the opposition in check for only nine points.

Kentucky was the first to score when Owens slipped beneath the basket for a beautiful crip shot. Centre followed this with a free throw and a goal by Stanley, making the score 3 to 2 in their favor. This was the first and last time during the game that Centre ever held the lead and this was not held long.

Soon after this Combs and Owens found the range of the basket and a deadly assault followed which pushed the Cats into the comfortable lead which they held throughout the game.

When the second half started the Colonels seemed to be inspired by some unknown force or power. It might have been the thought of the gridiron encounter earlier in the fall; at any rate they played the Blue and White on even terms and once or twice threatened to even the score.

Combs, Owens and McBrayer led the attack for the Blue and White, performing in a manner that was characteristic of their work of last year when playing on the Kitten team. Captain Jenkins handled the team in his usual calm and smooth way, and with the help of McGinnis broke up the Centre offensive many times, thus preventing the Colonels from scoring more points than they did.

The game was fast at all times, with both teams fighting hard to score and trying to prevent the other from scoring. It was rough at times and referee Arnston had a real job on his hands to prevent fouling.

Game Writeup - by Neville Dunn Lexington Leader

WILDCATS DOWN CENTRE, 36-23

Kentucky Takes Comfortable Lead in Early Stages; Play is Rough

DANVILLE, KY., Jan. 10 - The University of Kentucky Wildcats had to change their offensive tactics a bit here Monday night to meet the exigencies of a small playing floor and Centre's zone type of defense, but it did not interfere with their ability to make baskets. The Colonels were subdued by the rather decisive score of 36 to 23.

The tilt, the first on the basket ball floor this season between these old rivals, started off roughly and it got rougher each minute as the referee showed little inclination to penalize the players. It was not uncommon to see a near-foot ball tackle or a wrestling hold go unheeded.

The game was on ice for the Wildcats four or five minutes after the tilt started and the only excitement the handful of Kentucky fans felt was when Centre held in the first minute of play, a 3 to 2 lead. That insignificant advantage was overcome a moment later by the Blue and White, who from that point on never were in danger of defeat.

The Wildcats were greatly off form in their shooting, getting only a percentage of .241 in their shots compared to around .350 they got in their other three games this season. Had they cashed all their easy opportunities, the result would have been a landslide.

Centre showed little talent for getting by Kentucky's man-to-man defense and their shots were hurried throughout the game. The Colonels got only two or three crip shots, the others coming from a distance.

Teams Has Great Possibilities

Centre showed that it had a team with great possibilities, but its work, handicapped by insufficient practice, was of a raw and inexperienced variety. Staley, center, and Goings, guard, did best for the Colonels.

Several of the Wildcats showed defensive improvement over their last effort against Berea, but there was considerable deterioration noticeable in their offense. that can be explained by the fact that the gymnasium is too small for their attack, and the fact that the players had been knocked around so much in the early part of the game, they go to expect a "crack" every time they shot. Naturally their shooting was hurried and nervous.

Cecil "Pisgah" Combs is rounding rapidly to the form which he is really capable to reach and maintain, and his work was very encouraging to Coach Mauer. He showed traces of tiring once or twice and missed several easy shots, but at that, he led the scoring with 15 points.

Diminutive Hayes Owens, tossed around in the game like a feather in a torrent, played his best game of the season. His defensive work was much improved and he showed less inclination to dribble into tight places where he couldn't get out of if he had wings.

McGinnis at guard did effective work toward stopping the Centre attack and only once did he let his man get away for an easy shot. That time, he got too close to his man and a pivot left him behind.

Jenkins' Work Promising

Paul Jenkins took on the responsibility of captain in commendable fashion and showed that he is really capable of great leadership. His work was very promising.

McBrayer, at center, found it a tough job to outjump Staley, the Colonel's "dizzy" pivot man, but he made up for his shortcomings along that line by watching his man carefully enough to hold his foe's scoring down to a minimum. In the meantime, he found he opportunities to ring up six points, two of which were the result of a field goal, made with one hand to the other for several seconds above the heads of he defensive Colonels.

The first half ended with Kentucky leading 24 to 9. In the second period, Centre showed a little more ability and gained two points on the Cats. All during the second canto, the Cats held a lead of 13 points, the final margin of victory. If Centre made a goal, Kentucky came back a moment later with one and vice versa.

Advertisement in the Danville Daily Messenger the day of the game

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