Box Score DUBUQUE—It was that close.
           
A desperation three-quarter court heave by Central College guard Jaden Moody (junior, Cambridge, Ballard HS) provoked a few gasps in the crowd as it rimmed out and the University of Dubuque dodged the Central College men's basketball team 75-72 at Dubuque Saturday.
           
Central (7-14 overall, 4-8 American Rivers) also had a more conventional potential-tying 3-point try on a nice play by guard Shimar Jones (senior, Marshall, Texas) rattle in and out moments earlier, trailing 72-69.
           
"Shimar had just hit a three that helped bring us back," coach Craig Douma said. "It was a great look."
           
Dubuque (13-9 overall, 6-7 conference) strengthened its old on sixth place in the league standings and an inside track on a berth in the six-team league tourney with a two-game lead on the seventh-place Dutch.
           
Central roared back from a 16-point second-half deficit.
           
"We were really scoring the ball down the stretch," Douma said. "And we were locking them up on defense."
           
Guard Jamel McKnight (senior, Austin, Texas, Hendrickson HS) had a team-high 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists for Central. Guard Adam Flinn (sophomore, Wildwood, Mo., Lafayette HS) had 15 points, Jones had 14 and Moody had 13.
           
"Jamel had a pretty special night," Douma said. "We were playing well when he was on the floor."
           
But mistakes cost the Dutch, who made 17 turnovers, including 10 in the first half.
           
"The difference in the game was turnovers," Douma said. "Dubuque got 12 more shots than we did because of turnovers and offensive rebounds.
           
"Our defense was much better today. We had one tough stretch in the second half but it was our offense that was sputtering and struggling more than our defense during that stretch."
           
Central outshot Dubuque 49 percent to 46 percent and hit 47 percent from 3-point range. The Dutch held a 34-33 rebounding edge.
           
"I was really pleased," Douma said. "We played with a lot of effort. The kids really stepped up."
           
Central travels to Storm Lake to face Buena Vista University Wednesday in a conference women's-men's doubleheader. The men's game tips off at 8 p.m. Buena Vista is 9-13 overall and 3-10 in the league after nearly surprising No. 2-ranked Nebraska Wesleyan University Saturday in an 89-86 road loss Saturday. Central escaped the Beavers 77-73 at Pella Jan. 9.
           
"It will be a tough one," Douma said. "With their style of play, they spread you out. It's a lot of individual defense. They kind of put you on an island defensively half the time. It will come down to effort and putting together a good game plan."