After winning the American Rivers Conference tournament, the Central College men’s basketball team will carry its four-game winning streak into the NCAA Division III National Championships tournament tonight.

The Dutch were selected to play in a regional hosted by Washington University of St. Louis, where will square off with the host Bears in the first round.  It’s the first time since the 2015-16 season Central will be playing in the NCAA tournament and the 13th time in program history. 5th-year senior guard Kaleb Brand said it was a great feeling to help lead the Dutch back to the NCAA tournament. 

“We have put in a lot of work and I think it’s just a testament to our coaches and our players for sticking to it and to getting the job done in the end.”

Washington-St. Louis carries a 19-6 record and a 9-5 record in the University Athletic Association conference. Tonight’s contest will be the third ever meeting between Central and the Bears, and the first since December 9th, 2017. Washington-St. Louis holds a 2-1 record in those meetings, including winning the 2017 contest 87-83, while Central’s lone win came the year prior in an 84-80 victory on December 10th, 2016. Washington-St. Louis is currently ranked #17 in the latest D3hoops.com poll and averages 80 points per game while only allowing 67 points. 

#18 ranked Denison University and Franklin College will play in the first game at the regional site at 4:10 pm, while Central and Washington-St. Louis will meet in the second game at 6:40 pm. Coverage of tonight’s game between the Dutch and Bears can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS, beginning with pregame at 6:25 pm.