Central men’s basketball tourney run ends
DUBUQUE-Ten days after traveling to the University of Dubuque and enduring a blowout, the Central College men’s basketball team nearly delivered a knockout.
But instead, the Dutch (17-9) saw their own American Rivers tourney hopes come to crushing end in a 77-73 first-round loss Tuesday. Dubuque (21-5) advances to face top-seeded Nebraska Wesleyan University at Lincoln Thursday in the tournament semifinals.
Central was outscored at Dubuque Feb. 10, 96-64, after posting an 85-75 win over the Spartans Jan. 14 at Pella. But Tuesday the Dutch were up by as many as eight points in the second half and in position to put a tournament win away before a late scoring drought allowed Dubuque to take control down the stretch.
After trailing 35-32 at halftime, Central used a 10-0 run to take a 50-42 lead with 11:39 remaining. Dubuque tied it at 54-54 two minutes later, but the Dutch were still up 61-56 with 7:13 left and were clinging to a 68-67 advantage at the 3:36 mark. However, Central was then held scoreless until guard Brad Curren (freshman, Harlan) hit a 3-pointer with 26 seconds left. That still left Dubuque up 74-71 and the Dutch could come no closer.
Central was outshot from the field, 50.0% to 41.8% but the most telling stat was behind the 3-point line where the Dutch connected on just 18.2% (4-22).
“We finally hit a couple in the second half when we went up eight and then we went cold the rest of the game,” coach Joe Steinkamp said. “We had a good game plan. They just made a few more threes and I think that was the difference.”
All-American center Joshua Van Gorp (senior, Pella) had 27 hard-earned points against a sagging Dubuque defense. It was his 12th game with 25 or more points this season and the 17th of his career, which ranks third on Central’s all-time list, while his 23.3-point season scoring average ranks fourth. He ends his senior season with 1,357 career points, moving past Kyle Smith (2014-18) for seventh place on the Central charts.
“We still did a good job of finding him and he did a good job of working himself open,” Steinkamp said. “He had another great all-around game.”
A pair of fifth-year players, forward Grant Johnson (Waukee, Van Meter HS) and point guard Drew Edwards (Eden Prairie, Minn.) saw productive careers end. Edwards again filled up his box score line with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals while playing all 40 minutes. Johnson, who endured an injury plagued season and missed Saturday’s game with Luther College, added 13 points, seven boards, four assists, a steal and a block. Guard Kaleb Brand (senior, Mount Vernon) had nine points with five rebounds and three assists.
“Drew Edwards had a spectacular game on both ends,” Steinkamp said. “He shut down one of Dubuque’s leading scorers and then he scored 19. He was super-efficient, he distributed the ball, he rebounded. He showed why he’s one of the best guards in the league.”
Central has seven seniors on the roster including Johnson, Edwards, Van Gorp, Brand, forward Kole Tupa (Center Point, Center Point-Urbana HS), forward Nolan Brand (Mount Vernon) and guard Zach Kusper (Orland Park, Ill., Carl Sandburg HS).
Some may opt to return for a fifth year granted by the NCAA as a result of the global pandemic that hit when they were freshmen.
“These guys are so great to coach,” he said. “We’ve got a group of seniors that just mean a lot to the program. They helped transform the culture. They’re relentless workers and unbelievable kids. I just feel heartbroken for them.”
They’ve made Steinkamp’s two years as head coach memorable. A team that was pegged for last in the conference a year ago instead emerged with an outright title and posted a 24-8 conference record over two seasons.
“That’s probably one of the better two-year stretches in school history,” Steinkamp said. They’re just gritty, hard-nosed guys who love playing with each other and love to practice. It’s amazing what they’ve accomplished and how hard they work. I’m really pround of them.
Central was making its 21st conference tournament appearance.
