The No. 16 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team posted a dominant performance on both ends of the court Friday afternoon in a 79-68 victory over Central (Iowa) in the team's regular season non-conference finale at JustaGame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells.
 
The Warhawks (11-0 overall), who are off to their best start since the 2009-10 season, shot 58.8 percent from 3-point range in the first half and held on in the second half despite a furious rally by the Dutch.
 
Sophomore guard Andre Brown (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail) registered 10 of his team-high 16 points in the second half and added a team-best seven rebounds and three assists to lead UW-Whitewater. Sophomore forward Derek Rongstad (Middleton, Wis./Middleton) posted 15 points on five 3-pointers, and sophomore guard Mitchell Pfeifer (Wales, Wis./Kettle Moraine) totaled 13 points and five rebounds.
 
Freshman guard Zach Knobloch (Marengo, Ill./Marengo) collected 12 points, and junior forward Scotty Tyler (Grafton, Wis./Grafton) recorded 13 points and five rebounds.
 
In the first half, the Warhawks knocked down 10 three-pointers, including four from Rongstad.
 
After UW-Whitewater grabbed a 28-15 advantage on Rongstad's fourth 3-pointer of the period, the Dutch (7-4) posted a 10-0 run to draw within three by the 6:52 mark.
 
The Warhawks took the momentum back and built their lead going into the half, taking a 44-33 advantage on a pull-up, 35-footer by Knobloch just before the halftime buzzer sounded.
 
UW-Whitewater began the second half on a 16-4 run, opening up a 60-37 advantage after a drive to the basket and layup by Brown.
 
Central drew to within 10 around the five-minute mark, but the Warhawks held on.
 
UW-Whitewater opens Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play Wednesday against UW-La Crosse. Tipoff at Kachel Gymnasium is scheduled for 7 p.m.