News Release

PELLA, Iowa — Steady free throw shooting helped Loras College solidify its position in the Iowa Conference race with a 91-87 road win over the Central College men’s basketball team.

The Duhawks improved to 12-3 overall and 5-1 in the league after holding off a late charge by Central, which placed six players in double figures. Guard Zak Clark topped the Central list with a game-high 23 points and three assists.
Central (7-6 overall, 2-4 conference) trailed 40-36 at halftime and was down by 14 with 8:36 remaining. It was 84-75 with just 49 seconds left when a pair of free throws followed by a steal and 3-pointer by guard Chris Nelson cut it to 84-80 at the 35-second mark. But the Duhawks then sank four straight free throws to put the game away and hit 27-of-32 (84.4 percent) for the night.

“Loras doesn’t have many weaknesses right now,” coach Mike Boschee said. “But we were still right there. We had plenty of opportunities, but we made to many mistakes to overcome against a good basketball team.”

The Dutch committed 18 turnovers. Central shot 50 percent from the field and made 15 of 20 free throws while outrebounding Loras 30-29.

Forward Simeon Lang came off the bench to score 13 points, while Nelson added 12, with guard Brett De Hoogh and center Clint Driftmier ach scoring 11. Driftmier also was the game’s top rebounder with nine while De Hoogh dished out nine assists.

After winning six straight games, the Dutch are in the midst of a difficult four-game stretch in eight days.

“We knew four games in eight days would be tough,” Boschee said. “We were hoping to get a couple more W’s, but this is where we’re at and we’ve just got to move forward, stay focused and stay positive. There’s still a lot of basketball to be played and a lot of things to play for.”

Central goes for the turnaround Wednesday at Decorah in a women’s-men’s doubleheader with Luther College. The men’s contest tips off at 8 p.m.