PELLA—The American Rivers champion Central College men's basketball team opens conference tournament play by hosting a semifinal game with Loras College Thursday.
Game time is 7 p.m. at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. Tickets are $8 or $5 for students and seniors. Central students and staff are admitted free with college ID.
The Dutch (18-6) are the top seed in the six-team tourney and had a first-round bye while fourth-seeded Loras (16-10) defeated fifth-seeded Wartburg College (11-15) 85-80 at Dubuque Tuesday night. In the other first-round game, sixth-seeded Coe College (14-12) went on the road and knocked off third-seeded Nebraska Wesleyan University (16-10) 78-60. Coe plays Thursday at the second-seeded University of Dubuque (19-6).
Thursday's winners play in the tournament championship Saturday at the site of the higher seed with the start time to be determined. The tournament winner receives the league's berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Pairings will be announced at noon Monday via NCAA.com.
Central defeated Loras at Dubuque Jan. 7, 83-71 and at Pella Feb. 4, 66-56. The Dutch have won the conference tourney three times, most recently in 2016. The tournament launched in 1999. Central wrapped up its 18th conference championship Saturday with a 76-74 win at Simpson College.
Loras brings the highest-scoring offense in conference with a 78.0-point average. The Dutch rank first in defense, allowing 64.0 points per game.
Central ranks first in the NCAA Division III in blocks with 6.0 per game, second in defensive rebounds (32.1) and fourth in field goal percentage defense (36.6%.). Center
Joshua Van Gorp (junior, Pella, Pella Christian HS) is third in field goal percentage (68.7%). Forward
Grant Johnson (senior, Waukee, Van Meter HS) is 11th in blocks with a school-record 67. Guard
Kade Terrell (5th-year, Montrose, Colo.) is 14th in 3-pointers per game with 3.0 while guard
Drew Edwards (senior, Eden Prairie, Minn.) is 15th in assist/turnover ratio at 2.7.
