WAVERLY — Despite leading for almost half of the game, the Central College men's basketball team fell short at Wartburg College Saturday afternoon 70-63.
           
Central (12-11, 5-9 American Rivers Conference) went into halftime with a 32-29 advantage. Wartburg (13-11, 5-10 conference) roared into the second half with 22 points in the first 10 minutes while holding Central to nine.
           
Trailing by 20 with 5:34 remaining, Central closed on a 17-4 run to pull within seven with under a minute remaining. Boaz Clark (sophomore, Story City, Roland-Story HS) came off the bench and hit a trio of 3-pointers in that stretch.
           
Anthony Gott (sophomore, Davenport, North Scott HS) had 15 points, seven boards and five blocks while Kyle Cason (freshman, Grimes, Dallas Center-Grimes HS) had 19 points, six rebounds and five assists.
           
Central hosts Coe College at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.