What was a close game at half was no longer a few minutes into the second 20 minutes. The Central men’s basketball team went 13-for-22 from beyond the arc in the second half to pound Wartburg, 101 – 75. The Dutch made just four of their 16 attempts in the opening period, but still held a 43 – 31 advantage thanks to 15-of-17 shooting from the free throw line. Trashawn Boyd caught fire and made five triples and finished with a game and career-high total of 22 points. Boyd was one of six Dutch players in double figures. Central also out-grabbed the Knights on the boards, 45 – 28, including a 16-to-4 advantage on the offensive glass. Coach Craig Douma said after the game that it was a huge bounce back after a difficult loss to Buena Vista on Wednesday. It’s the first time since December 5, 1997 that Central’s men have scored at least 100 points in a conference game; that was in a 120 – 108 loss to Simpson. You would have to back earlier in the year to January 11 for their last win with at least hitting the century mark; a 105 – 76 defeat of Dubuque in ’97. The Central women were barraged by three’s and dropped a 70 – 53 contest to Wartburg. Central struggled offensively in the first half and allowed 15 long-bombs from the Knights in the game. Claire Marburger led all scorers with 24 points. The women fall to 4 – 18 overall and 1 – 10 in league play; the men surge to 15 – 8 and 6 – 6, respectively, which puts them into a tie for fourth place with the Knights in the Iowa Conference race. The Dutch could climb to third if they can knock off Loras on the road next this Wednesday.

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