PELLA—Central College put up a staunch defensive effort but second-chance points were plentiful enough to lift the first-place University of Dubuque to a 70-46 men's basketball victory in American Rivers action Monday.
Dubuque (14-5 overall, 9-1 conference) outrebounded the Dutch 42-24 and dominated the offensive glass 18-4, leading to a 20-2 advantage in second-chance points.
"When you give up 18 offensive rebounds and, in the first half, we had 10 turnovers with most of those in the first 10 minutes, now you have got yourself in a hole," coach
Craig Douma said. "They were a lot more physical and played a lot tougher than us."
Central (4-14 overall, 1-9 conference) limited the Spartans to 38.1% shooting but hit only 34.0%.
Yet the Dutch got an encouraging night from forward
Caden Mauck (5th-year, Kansas City, Mo., Blue Springs South HS) who had 14 points and nine rebounds, knocking down three 3-point goals.
"I liked how he played," Douma said. "That's the first time I've really shoot him shoot 3-pointers without even hesitating. That's something we've asked him to do. He really came out aggressive, he didn't turn the ball over and he played strong. That's the best he's played in a long time."
The Dutch got their usual high-octane effort from senior guard
Kade Terrell (Montrose, Colo.) as he came up with six steals along with eight points and no turnovers in 32 minutes.
There's little time to dwell on Monday's game as the Dutch travel to Lincoln, Nebraska Wednesday for a women's-men's doubleheader at Nebraska Wesleyan with the men's game tipping off at approximately 7:30 p.m. The Prairie Wolves toppled Central at Pella Dec. 1, 67-58 and are 11-8 overall with a 5-5 league mark.
"It's a tough place to play," Douma said. "It's a tough match-up for our bigs and that will be a challenge but I think our guards match up really well.
"I always like to see how this team bounces back. They always come back to work in practice and we've got to do the same thing tomorrow."
