A 54.3-percent shooting effort on the road still couldn't push the Central College men's basketball team past Cornell College Saturday as the Dutch stumbled 75-72.

Central also outrebounded the Rams 32-27. But ballhandling was the difference as Central (12- 11 overall, 8-7 Iowa Conference) committed 21 turnovers while Cornell gave up just 10. Cornell (8-15 overall, 3-11 conference) shot 48.3 percent and placed all five starters in double figures.

"We gave them 11 more opportunities to score," coach Mike Boschee said. "They had 20 first-half points off turnovers and 29 for the game. That makes it hard to win."

The Dutch were again shorthanded due to injury and illness as starting guard Brock Caves  and forward James Chapline were sidelined. Their absence was felt, Boschee said.

Guard Demarco Turner  had 17 points, six assists and five rebounds while center Jack Bruns  also had 17 points with six boards. Forward Chris Lehmann added 12 points with a team-high seven rebounds and guard KJ Cool had 11 points with four assists.

Turner was 5-of-9 from 3-point range, giving him 66 3-pointers for the year, just four shy of the school season record set by Wade Vander Molen (1999-2000).

Central closes the regular season next Saturday at Buena Vista in a women's-men's doubleheader at Storm Lake. The women's game tips off at 2 p.m. with the men's game at 4 p.m. The Dutch have lost 15 straight games at Storm Lake, last topping Buena Vista on its home floor Jan. 9, 1999.

"It'll definitely be a challenge," Boschee said. "Buena Vista always plays good basketball at home. It's a challenge but we're looking forward to it."

Having a week off will give the Dutch a chance to get healthy.

"It will be nice to get recharged and refocused and see what we can do down the stretch," Boschee said.

The games will be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1) and the broadcast can also be heard via the Central athletics website at www.central.edu/athletics.