PELLA—It had the makings of an epic comeback.
           
But what appeared to be an insurmountable 28-point first-half deficit eventually proved to be just that as the Central College men's basketball team was dropped into a tie for the American Rivers lead with a 76-67 home-court loss to Nebraska Wesleyan University Wednesday.
           
After trailing by as many as 28 points, Central clawed to within five before running out of clock.
           
Nebraska Wesleyan (13-8 overall, 8-4 conference) came out firing, bolting to an 18-2 lead in the first 6:34 and a 44-21 halftime advantage, fueled by sizzling outside shooting. The Prairie Wolves, who were up by as much as 39-11 with 4:22 left in the half, drained eight 3-point baskets and shot 51.5% from the field in the period, including 44.4% from 3-point range.
           
The Dutch (13-5 overall, 8-2 American Rivers), who ranked second in the NCAA Division III in blocked shots entering the game, had none in the first half as Nebraska Wesleyan spread the floor.
           
"They hit a lot of threes early and their bigs really stretched us out," coach Joe Steinkamp said. "And then we didn't hit shots early on and it just kind of snowballed on us. The first 15 minutes of the game was the difference. We just didn't meet their intensity."
           
While crediting Nebraska Wesleyan, Steinkamp said the typically stingy Dutch defense was lacking in the first half.
           
"We just didn't come out with the same attention to detail on some of their shooters as we normally do," he said.
           
Meanwhile, the Central offense got just one first-half field goal from its starting five.
           
It was a different Central squad in the second half as P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium came alive. After the lead was sliced to 70-65 with 1:19 left, forward Kole Tupa (junior, Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS) stole an offensive rebound and his reverse lay-in, which could have made it a one-possession game, took a long look inside the basket before sliding away.
           
After shooting an unsightly 19.0% from the field in the first half, the Dutch shot 53.1% after the break while limiting Nebraska Wesleyan to 29.6% shooting.
           
"The ball started to go in for us, which is big, and I thought our defense really picked up, so we were able to get out in transition," Steinkamp said. "I think that was key. And we got to the foul line, and that helped.
           
"I think in the end, we dug too big of a hole. It was too much to come back from."
           
Guard Kaleb Brand (junior, Mount Vernon) had a game-high 18 points.
           
"Kaleb played another excellent game," Steinkamp said. "He gave us great energy off the bench, making shots, really playing with a lot of confidence."
           
Center Joshua Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) had 14 points and eight rebounds.
           
"Josh, when we were able to get him the ball, did a good job of sealing and scoring," Steinkamp said.
           
Guard Kade Terrell (5th-year, Montrose, Colo.) had 11 points and forward Grant Johnson (senior, Waukee, Van Meter HS) had 10 with six rebounds. Guard Drew Edwards (senior, Eden Prairie, Minn.) had eight points and seven assists. The Dutch held a 38-35 rebounding advantage and finished with four blocks.
           
Seemingly every game in the hotly competitive conference race is crucial and Central's game Saturday against Loras College in Dubuque certainly merits that billing. It's a women's-men's twinbill, with the men's game tipping off at 4 p.m. Loras is 14-6 overall and now shares first place with Central at 8-3 in the conference after a 79-75 victory at Coe College Wednesday. Central was an 83-71 winner over the Duhawks at Pella Jan. 7.
           
"All the weeks are big but this is a really big week with Nebraska Wesleyan and Loras," Steinkamp said. "Two first-place teams going at it in Dubuque on Saturday, so our guys have to be ready to go."
           
Saturday's games will be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1) with Tyler Crabb calling the action and Shaffer Landuyt (sophomore, Norwalk) providing the color.