Van Gorp Tops 1,000 Career Points but Central Men’s Basketball Team Tumbles

Knocking down seven of his final eight shots, center Joshua Van Gorp became the 32nd Central College men’s basketball player to top the career 1,000-point mark but the Dutch couldn’t counter a torrid 3-point North Park University (Ill.) shooting effort in an 88-76 defeat Saturday.

Competing in the second day of the Music City Classic in suburban Nashville, Tennessee, the Dutch (9-3) fell behind 16-13 at the 12:35 mark of the first half and never led again. North Park (6-7), a preseason favorite in the rugged College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin, rained in 17 of 33 3-point shot attempts. North Park hit only 37.9% (11-29) from inside the arc. Central sank eight 3-pointers and shot 39.4% from the field. The Dutch, who lead the NCAA Division III in rebound margin, held a 45-35 advantage on the boards. They passed out 21 assists to 16 turnovers.

Van Gorp recorded his seventh double-double of the season and 14th of his career with 25 points and 16 rebounds after mustering only eight points in the first half on 3-of-11 shooting. He also had two blocks and two steals. Van Gorp now has 1,013 points, tying him for 30th on Central’s all-time scoring list.

Forward Kole Tupa added a double-double of his own with 17 points and 11 rebounds along with six assists. Forward Kaleb Brand had 10 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a pair of steals.

Central returns home to conclude the non-conference slate with a 5 p.m. game Tuesday against Bethany Lutheran College (Minn.) at P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.

Central Women’s Basketball Falls Short in Upset Bid Against #13 Millikin University

Down 19 and seemingly out of the game in the third quarter against #13-rated Millikin University, the Central College women’s basketball team clawed its way to within three in the closing minutes before dropping a 79-70 decision on Saturday.

Millikin (10-2), which ranks second in Division III in scoring offense with 85.0 points per game, staggered the Dutch in the early going with its speed and defensive pressure after Central took an initial 9-8 lead. The Big Blue rattled off 13 unanswered points amid a flurry of Central turnovers and misfires. Millikin was up 25-14 after the first quarter and 48-33 at intermission. But the young Dutch (7-6) were relentless, slicing the margin to 70-67 with just 3:45 remaining. Millikin used a decisive 7-1 burst in the next 2 minutes to secure the win.

Guard Abby Johnson was a big part of the comeback, hitting three 3-pointers and finishing with 17 points, three assists and three blocks. Center Allison Van Gorp turned in her seventh double-double of the season and 17th of her career with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Central was outshot from the floor 47.1% to 46.6% but hit 40% from the 3-point line and outrebounded Millikin 40-35. 

American Rivers Conference play resumes next week for the Dutch women and another nationally ranked opponent awaits them. Central travels to Dubuque Saturday to take on No. 25 Loras College in a women’s-men’s doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.