PELLA—Central College put its five starters in double figures but couldn't slow Coe College in an 86-76 men's basketball setback Saturday.
           
Forward Caden Mauck (junior, Kansas City, Mo., Blue Springs South HS) posted his 10th career double-double and the seventh of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
           
But Coe (8-5 overall, 3-1 American Rivers) went off for 50 points in the first half, hitting 60% from the field, including a steamy 58.3% from 3-point range.
           
"You've got to give credit to Coe," coach Craig Douma said. "They played really well tonight. Their length gave us a lot of problems. They had six guys who had two or more threes and there's only so much you can defend. But we did have some defensive breakdowns at times."
           
Central (4-8 overall, 1-2 conference) trailed by 21 points with 6:40 left in the game. A a late surge cut it to 83-76 with 53 seconds left before Coe secured the win.
           
"We played with a lot more urgency down the stretch," Douma said.
           
"I thought we didn't do a great job in the first half of getting Caden Mauck the ball. In the second half we had a much greater emphasis on getting him some touches but again their length made it tough."
           
Central actually outshot the Kohawks for the game 51.9%-51.7% and battled to a 29-29 draw on the boards but committed 19 turnovers.
           
"We had way too many turnovers," Douma said. "That hurt us."
           
Freshman Drake Johnson (Stanton) had 17 points for Central while freshman forward Keaton Rodgers (Peoria, Ariz., Sandra Day O'Connor HS) had 16 points and five rebounds. Guard Adam Flinn (junior, St. Louis, Mo., Lafayette HS) had 16 points and five assists and guard Sean Kostyk (junior, Cape Coral, Fla., Mariner HS) had 11 points.
           
Central heads to Decorah Wednesday for a league women's-men's twinbill with Luther College. The men's game tips off at 7:30 p.m. Luther is also 4-8 with a 2-3 league mark after a 77-54 defeat at Buena Vista University Saturday.
           
"We need to learn to bring it every night," Douma said.