11/08/14 • By The Telegram Staff

NORFOLK -- The Raiders made a run at the No. 19 team in their division and struggled late against Iowa Central.

The Central Community College men's basketball team lost to National Junior College Athletic Association Division II, No. 19 Iowa Lakes 89-87 in overtime and Iowa Central 101-84 last weekend during the Northeast Community College Classic in Norfolk.

After building a quick lead against Iowa Lakes, Central began to struggle. Still, the Raiders found the lead by halftime.

"We let them crawl back into it," Central head coach Jerry Drymon said. "We had a three point lead at halftime."

Iowa Lakes overcome that three-point hole and eventually took a narrow lead as the game wound down.

But Central was able to answer before the buzzer.

"Tyrone Clayton hit a 3-pointer with three seconds left to send the game into overtime," Drymon explained.

Iowa Lakes jumped on top of the Raiders by six points down the stretch in overtime.

"Then, we got it to one," Drymon said. "We missed the shot with six seconds to go."

The shot would have given Central the win.

Despite the loss, though, Drymon felt the Raiders took a positive step Friday.

"We played some of our best basketball offensively and to have an opportunity to win at the end is all you can ask for," he said.

The injury bug plagued the Raiders again Saturday, as Iowa Central downed Central 101-84.

Thomas Johnson went down in the first half for the Raiders with a deep bone bruise in his heel.

The injury, Drymon said, makes it tough to run. Drymon expects the injury to keep Johnson out for "7-10 days."

Johnson was the second Raider to be sidelined because of an injury, as Matt McLeod sprained his ankle in Central's first game of the season. Drymon is hopeful to have McLeod back this weekend.

"Johnson got hurt in the first half and Matt McLeod was hurt too, so we had two starters gone in the second half," Drymon said. "The injury bug hasn't treated us well."

Shawn Robinson scored 31 points in the loss for the Raiders.

Central hosts Iowa Western Tuesday.

Saturday at Norfolk

Central (1-4) - 87

Iowa Lakes - 89

Friday at Norfolk

Central -- 84

Iowa Central -- 101