PELLA—A Drew Edwards (junior, Eden Prairie, Minn.) 3-pointer forced overtime but the Central College men's basketball team faltered in overtime in a 73-66 setback against Hannibal-LaGrange University (Mo.) Friday.
           
It was an uphill slog much of the night for the Dutch (2-4), who trailed by as many as 10 points in the first half and were down 31-27 at intermission. Hannibal-LaGrange (2-5) led throughout the second half as well and was still up 59-54 with less than a minute remaining. But guard Sam Beatty (junior, Mount Pleasant) hit a pair of free throws with 40 seconds left and, after a missed shot, Edwards took the ball on the break and knocked down the tying shot from the top of the key with 10 seconds left. Culver-Stockton could only muster a desperation shot at the buzzer.
           
But the Trojans took the opening tip in overtime and never trailed.
           
Center Joshua Van Gorp (sophomore, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had 19 points and seven rebounds for the Dutch.
           
"We did a good job at times of getting him the ball," coach Craig Douma said. "Josh showed us a lot out there."
           
Forward Caden Mauck (senior, Kansas City, Mo., Blue Springs South HS) added 13 points.
           
"He made some big shots and came out and played well for us down the stretch," Douma said. "But he and Kade Terrell (senior, Montrose, Colo.) were both fighting foul trouble in the first half. I thought they were both playing well and that hurt us. It's a little bit more difficult to score with those two on the bench."
           
Central was outshot 48.3% to 42.1% but held a 39-32 rebounding edge. However, Douma was unhappy with the team's 15 turnovers.
           
"We still do not take care of the ball well enough," he said. "We had some pretty bad turnovers down the stretch."
           
Douma said Central is in urgent need of a win Saturday, when 0-6 Northland College (Wis.) visits for a 5 p.m. contest at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.
           
"Three of their losses have been against really good competition," he said. "But it's a game we've got to get. We don't have a home win yet this year. We're 0-3 at home and that shouldn't be the case."