News Release

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Host Cal Lutheran shot 61 percent from the floor in the first half and coasted to a 75-56 win over the Central College men’s basketball team in the Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Tournament Wednesday night.

Central, 3-5, will meet Gettysburg College (Pa.) in the third-place game Thursday. The Bullets fell in double overtime to Carthage College (Wis.) Wednesday, 89-87.

Cal Lutheran, 6-2, took a commanding 50-27 lead at intermission. Central was up 12-8 with 14:32 left in the first half before the Kingsmen went on a 10-0 run. They added an 8-0 spree later in the half.

A 10-2 Central run in the second half whittled the gap to 59-48 with 11:50 left, but the Dutch could come no closer.

Central center Clint Driftmier had 12 points and 10 rebounds before sustaining a foot injury. Coach Mike Boschee said the extent of the injury is not yet known but said Driftmier is extremely doubtful for Thursday’s action and is likely out indefinitely.

The Dutch also got 12 points from forward Simeon Lang while forward Scott Huisman had 10 points.

Central was outrebounded 36-32 and shot 41.4 percent from the field to Cal Lutheran’s 52.5 percent.

“We didn’t compete at all in the first half, I didn’t feel,” Boschee said. “We knew it was going to be a very physical game and it was, but we didn’t respond very well in the first half. In the second half we played a lot better and at least competed a little bit. We got the lead down to 11 points and had plenty of opportunities to get it even closer but didn’t get it done.”