Central College enjoyed a seven-point lead but host Gustavus Adolphus College (Minn.) took control in the second half for an 81-75 men's basketball victory Saturday.

Guard Jaden Moody (junior, Cambridge, Ballard HS) had 18 points for Central (1-4) and guard Adam Flinn (sophomore, Wildwood, Mo., Lafayette HS) came off the bench to add 16. The Dutch used a 7-0 flurry to go up 40-33 in the closing seconds of the first half and led 40-35 at intermission. But Central last led 50-48 with 15:22 left in the game. The Golden Gusties (2-2) reeled off nine unanswered points and led the rest of the way.
           
"I was disappointed in our defense in the second half," coach Craig Douma said. "We gave them too many easy looks."
           
Gustavus outshot Central from the field, 46 percent to 45 percent and held a 36-34 rebounding edge, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds and getting 17 second-chance points.
           
"We had a couple of really nice stops down the stretch but gave up the offensive rebound," Douma said. "We've got to rebound better.
           
"It's a very disappointing loss. We played well enough to win."
           
Douma did like some individual performances, highlighting Moody and Flinn. Flinn had a near-perfect stat line, going 7-for-7 from the field and 2-for-2 from the line with two assists, two rebounds and two steals but two turnovers.
           
"Adam played really well," Douma said. "He defended pretty well, too."               
           
Forward Seth Wood (junior, Branson, Mo.) had 11 points, four assists and a game-high 10 rebounds for Central while forward Caden Mauck (sophomore, Kansas City, Mo., Blue Springs South HS) had nine points.
           
Central opens American Rivers Conference play Wednesday with a women's-men's doubleheader at Lincoln, Nebraska with No. 1-ranked Nebraska Wesleyan. The men's game tips off at 8 p.m. The Dutch were 0-3 against Nebraska Wesleyan last year but nearly knocked off the Prairie Wolves in the Iowa Conference tournament title game at Lincoln, holding an 18-point lead midway through the second half before stumbling 82-78. Nebraska Wesleyan went on to win the NCAA Division III title. The squad is 6-0 after defeating Olivet College (Mich.) Saturday at Lincoln, 100-70.
           
"They're really good at home," Douma said. "We've got to shoot the ball well. We haven't done that yet."