PELLA—Surging from a 12-point second-half deficit, the Central College men's basketball team forced overtime before finally dropping an 88-81 American Rivers contest to Coe College Wednesday night.
           
Guard Jamel McKnight (senior, Austin, Texas, Hendrickson HS) sparked the Dutch comeback and finished with 18 points in 41 minutes.
           
"Jamel made some big plays," coach Craig Douma said.
           
Central (7-11 overall, 4-5 conference) trailed 35-33 at intermission. The game was tied  at 42-42 when Coe went on a 17-5 run for a 59-47 advantage with 11:41 left. Central chipped away and finally tied it 73-73 on a Jaden Moody (junior, Cambridge, Ballard HS) 3-pointer with 1:11 remaining. The Dutch had a chance for the win on their final possession but couldn't convert.
           
"I was really proud of how we kept battling," Douma said. "We did a great job of coming back and put ourselves in a great position to win, we just couldn't get it done. We hung in there pretty well in the overtime, too. But Coe is playing pretty well right now."
           
Guard Adam Flinn (sophomore, Wildwood, Mo., Lafayette HS) had 15 points and four assists while forward Thomas Spoehr (freshman, Bennington, Neb.) had 13 points and 12 rebounds while Moody finished with 12 points and eight boards.
           
Central finally regained the services of forward Seth Wood (junior, Branson, Mo.)
and Caden Mauck (sophomore, Kansas City, Mo., Blue Springs South HS) although both were limited. Mauck hadn't been on the floor since Dec. 18 and played just 11 minutes. Wood had nine points and eight rebounds in 21 minutes.
           
Central was outshot 49.2 percent to 42.9 and outrebounded, 39-36. The Dutch hit just 23.1 percent (6-26) from 3-point range.
           
"We did not shoot the ball well," Douma said. "We missed a lot of good looks early, especially in the first half when we were 1-for-12. You can't shoot the ball like that and expect to win."
           
The loss drops Central into fifth place in the league standings as teams jockey for positioning in the six-team conference tournament.
           
"This puts a lot more pressure on us," Douma said. "We've got a tough schedule ahead of us with three of our next four on the road."
           
The Dutch are at Waverly Saturday for a women's-men's doubleheader at Wartburg College. Game time is 4 p.m. The twinbill will be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1) with Cory Houser. The broadcast can also be heard via www.kniakrls.com.
           
Wartburg is 13-6 overall and 7-3 in the conference after knocking off Loras College 88-83 at home Wednesday. The Knights outscored Central 102-85 at Pella Jan. 5.
           
"All we can control is ourselves," Douma said. "We're going to try to steal one on the road."