Taylor scores 42 in men’s basketball overtime thriller
Central College
LINCOLN, NEB. — Junior forward Colby Taylor (Creston, Iowa) racked up a career-high 42 points Saturday but the Central College men’s basketball squad suffered its first loss in a shootout at Nebraska Wesleyan Saturday, 107-102 in overtime.
Taylor’s 42 points are the most for a Dutch player since Scott Huisman scored 43 in 2003 against Upper Iowa and just three off the school record of 45. It’s a new scoring record for the Snyder Classic tournament, topping Dubuque’s Andre Norris’ 36, set earlier Saturday.
Taylor was 16-of-24 from the floor and made five of his seven attempts from behind the arc. He also brought down 13 boards to notch his 14th-career double-double and second of the season.
“Colby is playing at a high level right now,” coach Craig Douma said. “He’s shooting the ball well and did a great job tonight scoring off inbound plays.”
But the Dutch (4-1) saw a 19-point first-half lead and a 10-point halftime advantage slip away. They shot 48 percent overall and 30 percent from 3-point range and outrebounded Nebraska Wesleyan (5-2) 53-39. The Prairie Wolves did most of their damage from behind the arc, knocking down 17-of-46 3-pointers, a 37 percent clip.
Central committed 19 turnovers that led to 22 Nebraska Wesleyan points.
“Our turnovers cost us the game,” Douma said. “We got passive and quit attacking in the second half when they (Nebraska Wesleyan) stopped pressing us.”
Douma did see some things he liked.
“It might sound strange, but I think our defense was good tonight,” he said. “Nebraska Wesleyan is a good team that shot the ball extremely well. We defended them as well as you can.”
Central looked to be in control early, leading by as many as 19 with under seven minutes to play in the first half. Nebraska Wesleyan took its first lead of the half at 82-80 with 4:34 remaining in regulation.
The final four minutes were back-and-forth before Nebraska Wesleyan took a 93-89 lead with just 1:16 on the clock. Central pulled within two on a Taylor layup with 58 seconds left and knotted it at 93 when Taylor drained two free throws at the 17-second mark. But the overtime was all Nebraska Wesleyan.
Junior forward Ryan Kunkel (Solon, Iowa) tallied his second-consecutive double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. Kunkel and Taylor were both named to the all-tournament team.
“Ryan stepped up for us this weekend,” Douma said. “He had a heck of a weekend and is very deserving of his all-tournament team honor.”
Guards Kyle Smith (sophomore, Ionia, Iowa/New Hampton HS) and Austin Hauser (senior, Marshalltown, Iowa) were both in double figures, Smith going for 13 points and Hauser notching 10.
Central will take a week off, playing next Saturday at home against Wis.-La Crosse at 3 p.m. at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium. The Eagles knocked off the Dutch 70-54 last season. A video webcast and live stats will be available at www.central.edu/athletics.
“We need to take this week and get organized,” Douma said. “We can put some new stuff in and also work on some of the things we saw on film.”
Central will regain the services of junior forward Tate Handsaker (Nevada), last year’s team defense award winner. He’s been sidelined by injury.
“Tate Handsaker has been getting healthy and looks ready to go,” Douma said. “He should see his first game action next Saturday.”
