They led from start to finish. The Central men’s basketball emerged victorious in the Iowa Conference tournament championship game over Wartburg on Saturday night, 92 – 80 in Waverly. Central came out shooting hot from the field and were focused all game long; they built an early 12-point lead while holding the Knights to just 2-for-17 shooting in the first eight minutes. However, Central foul trouble and free throws kept Wartburg within arm’s length. Colby Taylor moved into eighth in all-time scoring at Central with a monster 28-point, 17-rebound performance to lead the court in both categories. Coach Craig Douma says his guys survived a gritty week by playing more like a No. 1-seed in the tournament. Central is 19 – 9 on the year, and they are the first league team to win three straight road games in the Iowa Conference tournament, and the first No. 5-seed to earn the automatic bid into the Division III National Tournament. The Dutch will learn their fate today in the selection show for where their first round game will be played at and who it will be against.

Photos courtesy of Central men’s basketball team, and Central Athletics website.