On Senior Day, the Central College men’s basketball team’s impending graduates shined in a 77-62 victory over Luther College Saturday, while a berth in the American Rivers Conference Tournament eluded the Dutch women’s squad in an 82-71 loss to the Norse, and both games were heard live on 92.1 KRLS.

For the Central men, fifth-year senior point guard Drew Edwards was among several seniors who shined, delivering a game-high 16 points to go with seven assists and five rebounds. Senior All-America center Joshua Van Gorp recorded his 11th double-double of the season with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Senior guard Kaleb Brand recorded 14 points and six rebounds and twin-brother Nolan Brand added eight points and six rebounds in his first and only start of the season. The Dutch were without starting fifth-year senior forward Grant Johnson due to injury but he was still among seven seniors honored before the game, joined by Edwards, Van Gorp, the Brand brothers, Kole Tupa, and Zach Kusper.

In the win or go home for the Central women’s team, a berth in the conference tournament was theirs for three quarters. But a 30-point fourth quarter for Luther left the Central women a game out of the mix for a spot in the six-team tourney. Central led the game for more than 31 minutes, including advantages of 38-34 at halftime and 56-52 after three quarters. An Abby Johnson bucket put Central up 67-66 with just 4:37 to play but Luther seized control down the stretch with a 14-2 run. Johnson hit nine of 12 shots, including four 3-pointers for 22 points while guard Jasmyn Williams added a career-high 19 points that included her first three made three-pointers of the season. That gave Central a nice lift after a first-half injury sidelined starting point guard Emily Naughton.

The Central men’s win, combined with the University of Dubuque’s victory at Loras College, means the Dutch will carry the five seed into the conference tournament. The Central men open tourney play Tuesday at fourth-seeded Dubuque at 7:30 pm. The Central women ended their season at 11-14 overall and 5-11 in conference play, and graduate seniors Kassidi Steel and Allison Van Gorp.