Guards Jaden Moody (junior, Cambridge, Ballard HS), Adam Flinn (sophomore, Wildwood, Mo., Lafayette HS) and Jamel McKnight (senior, Austin, Texas, Hendrickson HS) combined for 69 points but Central College couldn't overcome its first-half defensive struggles and saw its men's basketball comeback attempt stymied at Simpson College, 93-87 Wednesday night.
           
The loss ends Central's American Rivers tournament hopes, giving the University of Dubuque the sixth and final spot. The Dutch slip to 5-10 in league play and 8-16 overall.
           
After leading early, Central let Simpson run up a 53-37 halftime advantage. Central scrambled its way back as Flinn rained in 16 points in the first 12 minutes of the second half, cutting the gap to 76-75 with 8:09 left. The Dutch remained within striking distance the rest of the way, but couldn't overtake Simpson (14-9 overall, 8-7 conference)
           
"You can't give up 53 points in the first half and expect to win," coach Craig Douma said. "We made some defensive errors that allowed them to get some good looks and get to the rim.
           
"We outplayed them the second half. We really locked them up down the stretch. I thought our effort was good all night, but we just couldn't finish the deal."
           
Flinn and Moody each had 24 points. That's a career-high for Flinn, who was a torrid 10 of 12 from the field with four 3-point goals.
           
"Adam had a great second half," Douma said. "He carried us for a while."
           
McKnight followed with 21 points and four assists.
           
"Jamel (McKnight) and Jaden (Moody) made some great plays at the basket," Douma said.
           
In an encouraging showing off the bench, forward Caden Mauck (sophomore, Kansas City, Mo., Blue Springs South HS) had 12 points and 11 rebounds for his most productive outing since being sidelined by injury in December. It's his third career statistical double-double and second of the year.
           
"It was good to see him playing more like he did last year and like he did before he got hurt," Douma said. "He really stepped up when Thomas (Spoehr) (freshman, Bennington, Neb.) got in foul trouble. It was good for him to have a game like that."                                                       
           
Central shot 53.1 percent from the field including 66.7 percent in staging its second-half comeback. But Simpson hit 53.3 percent. Central held a 33-31 rebounding edge.
           
Central closes its season Saturday when Loras College visits P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium for a women's-men's conference doubleheader with the men's game starting at 4 p.m.
           
Loras is 19-5 overall and 11-4 in the league after escaping Luther College at Dubuque Wednesday, 87-84. The Duhawks outscored Central 106-91 at Dubuque Jan. 19.
           
Saturday will be Senior Day for the Dutch, who will recognize McKnight, guard Shimar Jones (Marshall, Texas) and forward Mason Walter (Urbandale).
           
"We want to send our seniors out on the right note," Douma said. "Loras is a very good team. But we've got nothing to lose at this point. We want to do it for our seniors and have a good night."
           
​​​​​​​Saturday's games will be broadcast on KRLS-FM (92.1) with Cory Houser and can also be accessed via www.kniakrls.com. Live stats and a video webcast of Wednesday's games will be available through athletics.central.edu.