Keith Pedersen Jan. 16, 2008

Pedersen sizzles, Dutch soar, 77-58

PELLA—Central College forward Keith Pedersen (senior, Jefferson, Jefferson-Scranton HS) is hotter than an August football practice.      

Already the NCAA Division III field goal percentage leader, Pedersen was a perfect 9-of-9 from the field as the Central College men’s basketball team outscored Coe College 77-58 Wednesday night.

Pedersen, who set a school mark by hitting 13 of 13 shots in a Dec. 29 win over William Woods (Mo.), upped his season shooting percentage to 76.0 and finished with 19 points. Guard Miguel Ley (sophomore, San Antonio, Texas, Judson HS) had a game-high 24 points while guard Justin Madsen (sophomore, Fort Dodge, St. Edmond HS) added 13 and guard Zak Clark (senior, Fort Dodge, St. Edmond HS) scored 10. Clark, who knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, tied the school career 3-point mark of 150 set by Chris Nelson (2002-06).

Pedersen got the Dutch roaring out of the blocks Wednesday with a dunk for the game’s first hoop as Central (9-4 overall, 2-4 Iowa Conference) jumped to a 13-1 lead. Central widened the gap to 30-10 with 5:32 left in the half and was up 36-23 at the break. Coe (7-7 overall, 2-3 conference) never got closer than 14 the rest of the way.

Central snapped a three-game losing skid but it wasn’t all good news for the Dutch as point guard Brett DeHoogh (senior, Clive, Valley HS) went down with an ankle injury in the second half. He was still Central’s leading rebounder with six.

Coe edged Central on the boards 40-39 but shot just 35.7 percent from the floor. Central hit 44.6 percent and forced 19 Coe turnovers.

Central is at the University of Dubuque Saturday for a women’s-men’s doubleheader with the men’s game tipping off at approximately 4 p.m. The teams split a pair of games in 2006-07. The Spartans are 6-6 overall and 2-3 in the Iowa Conference after a 54-47 road win at Luther College Wednesday.

Saturday’s doubleheader will be broadcast by KRLS-FM (92.1) and can also be heard at www.kniakrls.com.