PELLA— The Central College men's basketball team held Wartburg College to 34.8% from the floor which led the team to a 66-61-win Saturday.
           
"I am proud of how the guys defended," said coach Joe Steinkamp. "Sometimes you must win ugly games, and it was good for us to battle and win a game in the 60s when we didn't shoot it great. We found a way to win and that exciting."
           
The Dutch (2-1 American Rivers) were led in scoring by freshman forward Owen Schipper (Waukee) who scored 16 points on 5-10 shooting while also collecting four rebounds, one assist and three steals. Schipper also led the team playing 31 minutes.
           
Kaleb Brand (5th-year, Mount Vernon) scored 13 points, on 6-8 shooting while also grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out three assists. He also had three steals.
           
"Brand and Schipper were great on both ends of the floor," said Steinkamp. "They made key baskets for us in the second half as well."
           
Karson Wehde (sophomore, Ankeny) scored nine points while also having three assists. He also held Wartburg's (6-3, 1-2 American Rivers) leading scorer Marshawn Williams to 4-16 from the field.
           
"Wehde's defense on Williams was excellent and he slowed him down," Steuinkamp said.
           
As a team Central shot 41.4% from the field, 20% from three-point range and 13-20 from the free throw line.
           
The squad also scored 36 points in the paint which was led by center Joshua Van Gorp (5th-year, Pella, Pella Christian HS) who scored 14 points on 6-11 shooting while also collecting his ninth straight double-double with 13 rebounds.
           
Central returns to the court Saturday at 4 p.m. when it hosts No. 6 ranked University of Wisconsin-Platteville at the P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.