Loras improved to 3-0 in league play and is 7-5 overall. Driftmier, a 6-foot-10 center, scored a game-high 21 points with seven rebounds. He reached 1,000 with his final bucket of the day, a layup with 5:31 left in the game. Driftmier is the first Dutch player to reach the mark since Tosh Dillinger (1996-2000). He entered the game as the league’s leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, now averaging 21.1 points and 8.7 rebounds.
But Loras was in control of Saturday’s game nearly the entire way. The Duhawks sprinted to a 38-25 halftime lead and Central (5-6 overall, 2-1 conference) never came closer than eight points in the second half. After shooting a record 69 percent from the floor in an 83-69 win over Wartburg Wednesday, Central hit just 42.9 percent Saturday and was a frigid 13.3 percent from 3-point range. The Dutch were also hammered on the boards 44-23 as Loras shot 50.8 percent, including 60.9 percent from the second half.
Loras placed four players in double figures as guard Jake Oeth recorded a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Central got 12 points from guard Miguel Ley and 10 from guard Zak Clark.
After four straight road games the Dutch make their first home appearance since Dec. 16 Tuesday as Buena Vista University visits. The Beavers are 8-3 overall and 3-0 in league play after an 84-79 overtime win over Coe College Saturday. Central split a pair of games with BV last season, losing at Storm Lake before a 79-61 victory at Pella that snapped BV’s 17-game win streak over the Dutch.