A tenacious closing effort couldn’t overcome a late first-half dry spell as the Central College men’s basketball team was out-muscled by traditional NCAA Division III men’s basketball contender Wis.-Platteville 94-77 Saturday.

A 5-minute Dutch drought let Wis.-Platteville (5-2) break it open with a 16-0 run.. It was 54-34 at the half. The Dutch turn their attention to fall semester exams for a few days, then play host to Faith Baptist Bible College Thursday. Game time is 7 p.m. at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.