For the 12th time in program history the Central College men’s basketball team is moving to the NCAA Division III National Championships Tournament.

The Dutch qualified after winning the American Rivers Conference tournament championship 68-57 over Nebraska Wesleyan University Saturday. Central was picked to go to St. Louis, Missouri and take on #13-ranked Washington University of St. Louis Friday at 6:40 p.m. The other first round matchup in St. Louis will be Denison University (Ohio) against Franklin College (Ind.). The two winners will advance to the second round which will be played on Saturday night. Fifth-year seniors Joshua Van Gorp and Kaleb Brand said it was awesome to hear Central’s name called on Selection Monday, and that they are excited to try and make a run in their final season with the Dutch.

“It was something we had tried to do the last couple years but fell short of the last couple years, but this is everything we could have dreamed of,” said Van Gorp. “So, now we just have to make the most of it and see what we can do.”

“It’s been a fun group this year, so we’re super excited to get it done,” said Brand. “We’ve obviously been close the last couple years, but came back this year and it was one of our goals for this year and we’re super excited to have gotten it done.”

Hear more from Van Gorp and Brand on Today’s Lely Radio Sports Page. The Central men’s basketball team’s run in the NCAA Tournament can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS, beginning with pregame coverage of the first round matchup against Washington University at 6:25 pm Friday night.