LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Wesleyan looked every bit like a team ready to defend its home floor in December, running past Central 91–67 on Wednesday night at Snyder Arena. The matchup, a rematch of last season's A-R-C title game, belonged to NWU from the opening stretch as the Prairie Wolves (5–3, 1–0 A-R-C) controlled tempo, dictated pace and buried the Dutch (4–3, 0–1 A-R-C) with shot-making and depth.
Nick Howard set the tone with 23 points on 9-for-15 shooting, while Seth Newton delivered a double-double with 17 and 10 rebounds. NWU's bench added 36 points as the Prairie Wolves outscored Central in nearly every specialty category.
How It Happened
First Half
Central opened with early rhythm and briefly led, but Devin Holmon's triple flipped the momentum sharply. Holmon knocked down a jumper to stretch the lead to 19–12 as NWU settled into its offensive flow. Newton drilled a three with five minutes left in the half, giving the Prairie Wolves their first double-digit advantage. The first half highlight came at the horn. Neal Mosser launched from half court and buried it, lifting the building and sending NWU into the locker room up 41–29. NWU forced Central into extended scoring droughts through its aggressive zone, converting turnovers into efficient transition points.
Second Half
The Prairie Wolves held the Dutch at arm's length early in the half, quietly widening the margin to 15. Howard scored five quick points in the opening six minutes, knocking down a three and adding a jumper as NWU continued to dictate pace. Newton and Reece Carson traded threes down the stretch, helping push the lead to 20 with four minutes remaining. Central trimmed the margin briefly but never came closer than the mid-teens as NWU's depth carried the closing minutes. Owen Alleman finished the night with a strong take at the rim for the final bucket, punctuating a commanding 24-point victory.
Inside the Box Score
Game Notes
- NWU topped the 90-point mark for the first time this season.
- Newton recorded his first double-double of the season.
- Howard posted his highest single-game scoring total of the season.
- The Prairie Wolves held an opponent under 70 points for the fourth time this year.
Up Next
Nebraska Wesleyan heads to Decorah this Saturday, December 6, for a 4 p.m. conference matchup against Luther.
