CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Iowa Conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball National Tournament will be decided in Pella, Iowa. The two teams that shared the Iowa Conference regular season title, No. 1 Nebraska Wesleyan and No. 2 Loras went down tonight. No. 5 seed Central upset No.1 seed Nebraska Wesleyan on the 85-63. In the other semifinal game, No. 6 seed Wartburg deafeated No. 2 Loras 92-89 to punch their ticket to the title game.
The Iowa Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Championship Game is scheduled for Saturday, February 25 with Central College hosting Wartburg College. Tip-off is set for 7:00pm. The Dutch were 2-0 against Wartburg in the regular season. On January 14 Central defeated Wartburg 94-90 in Waverly. The second Dutch win came in Pella on February 4, where they defeated Wartburg 91-86.
No. 5 Central - 85, No. 1 Nebraska Wesleyan - 63 BOX SCORE
Central's Pete Walker was the leading scorer for the Dutch with 22 points. Walker added six rebounds, two assists and one steals. The leading rebounder for the Dutch was Colby Taylor with 10. Taylor added 16 points, two assists and two steals. Kyle Smith was the second leading scorer for Central with 21. The Dutch shot 52.2% overall and 42.1% from the three-point line.
Nebraska Wesleyan's leading scorers were Nate Schimonitz and Deion Wells-Ross, with 20 points each. Wells-Ross was also the Prairie Wolves leading rebounder with eight. The Prairie Wolves shot 34.8% overall and 20% from three-point land.
No. 6 Wartbirg - 92, No. 2 Loras - 89 BOX SCORE
Wartburg's Jaran Sabus was the games leading score with 35 points. Sabus connected on 13-15FG and 9-10 form the free throw line. Wartburg's second leading scorer was Jordan Cannon with 16. On the bords, Clifton Brown led the Knights with six. The Knights shot 59.6% from the field and 31.6% from the three point line.
Justin VanWambeke was the leading scorer for Loras with 28. VanWambeke added five rebounds and three assists. Demond George was the Duhawk's second leading scorer with 19. With seven rebounds, Ryan DiCanio led the Duhawks. Loras shot 50% from the field and 36.4% from behind the arch.
