DUBUQUE — Shooting 39.2 percent from the field and committing 18 turnovers was too difficult for the Central College men's basketball squad to overcome in a 67-57 loss to the Iowa Conference regular season champions from the University of Dubuque Saturday.
With seeding in the Iowa Conference tournament on the line, the Dutch (15-8, 7-7 Iowa Conference) run up against a stifling Spartan (18-7, 11-3 Iowa Conference) defense. Dubuque held the Dutch to a season low 57 points on 20-of-51 shooting.
"You've got to give Dubuque credit," coach Craig Douma said. "I thought their defense really impacted us tonight. We lacked consistency with our shooting. We got some good looks and couldn't knock them down."
The Central defense held the Spartans 11 points below their season average, but committed 18 turnovers and was outrebounded 37-31.
"I thought we played well enough defensively," Douma said. "We just didn't take care of the ball and didn't rebound very well."
After going 6-for-6 from the field in the first half and scoring 16 points, Colby Taylor (junior, Creston) was limited to 1-of-6 in the second half to finish with 22 points.
"Colby did a good job of finding ways to score," Douma said. "The guys did a good job of finding him. He stepped up tonight and played well."
Pete Walker (junior, Red Oak) chipped in 15 points before fouling out.
"Pete led the charge in the second half and helped us make a run," Douma said. "He picked up his fourth foul and we had to sit him for a while. We brought him back in because we needed him and he picked up his fifth foul on a charge. It was frustrating night for him in that way. He did some good things and stepped up offensively."
Falling to the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament, Central will play in Dubuque for the third time in less than a week next Tuesday at Loras. Central swept the season series from the Duhawks. A third win would move the Dutch into the semifinals against Dubuque.
"We've got to play with some consistency," Douma said. "I think we defend well enough, it's about taking care of the ball and not losing scoring opportunities. It's going to be a tough stretch, but it can be done."
