Central (2-3) led by as many as 17 points in the first half in sprinting to a 42-26 lead at the break. The Dutch came up with nine first-half steals and capitalized with an effective transition game. But Penn’s defense stifled Central in the second half as the Dutch shot just 23.1 percent from the field after hitting 58.1 percent in the first half. Central was outscored 43-18 after intermission.
The Statesmen, playing their 16th game of the young season improved to 8-8. They got 19 points and six rebounds from Ryan Norman and 13 points with six boards by Anris Reeves.
Central forward Scott Huisman had 17 points and seven rebounds. Guard John Carlson had 15 points and four assists and forward Keith Pedersen had 11 points with three assists and four steals.
Central grabbed a 12-2 lead in the first six minutes, before getting outscored 18-6 as Penn surged ahead, 20-18 with 8:36 left in the half. Still down, 24-23, with 6:24 left, the Dutch went on a 17-0 run, sparked by a couple of breakaway dunks by Pedersen. That made it 41-24 and it was 42-26 Central at the break.
But the lead quickly evaporated. Penn scored the first 11 points of the second half and the Statesmen regained the lead, 55-52, on Brad Nicholson’s 3-pointer with 8:06 left. They led the rest of the way.
Central travels to Des Moines to meet Grand View College Saturday at 4 p.m. The Dutch return home the following Saturday, Dec. 18, for the pre-Christmas finale against MacMurray (Ill.).