2/4/15 • By The Telegram Staff

NORFOLK -- After getting off to a slow start, the Raiders played a better second half en route to their 20th loss on the year.

The Central Community College men's basketball team fell to Northeast Community College 87-66 Wednesday in Norfolk.

"We drove ourselves into a huge hole," Central head coach Jerry Drymon said. "We struggled in the first half. When you shoot 8-for-35 in a half, you have a hard time winning games. It's tough to do that and expect to compete against good teams."

The first half was certainly the problem for the Raiders, as Central was outscored 42-25 in the half.

"We had a lot of open shots -- we just didn't make them," Drymon said. "When you miss, it can become contagious, just like made shots can be contagious. We just missed a lot of open shots."

The Raiders bounced back in the second half, however, improving their shooting percentage to 34 percent in the game -- up from the 22 percent they shot in the first half.

Despite the improvement, Northeast still scored 45 points. Central, though, recorded 41 second-half points.

"We were a little more aggressive getting to the basket," Drymon said. "We didn't shoot near as many 3s. We were much more aggressive and went to the basket."

The Raiders shot just 26 percent from deep in the game.

O.J. Thok led all scorers with 22 points off the bench for the Raiders. Matthew McLeod and Thomas Johnson added eight points apiece, and Tyrone Clayton, Shawn Robinson and Connor Long each scored seven points.

Central falls to 5-20 on the year with the loss. With four games remaining, the Raiders look to finish on a positive note, according to Drymon.

Up next for Central is a familiar foe. Central hosts the Doane JV Sunday. Central and Doane have played twice this year with each team earning one win.

"We have to play hard, we have to play with a high level of intensity," Drymon said. "Offensively, we have to not dig ourselves into such a big hole in the first half."

Wednesday at Norfolk

Central (5-20) 25 41 - 66

Northeast 42 45 - 87

* CENTRAL - Matthew McLeod 8, Tyrone Clayton 7, Shawn Robinson 7, Thomas Johnson 8, Connor Long 7, OJ Thok 22, Daniel Maganda 2, David Joachim 2, Nietzche Jeantinor 3.

* NORTHEAST - Chima Moneke 10, Torrell Sutton 8, Jalen Bradley 14, Kevin Metoyer 4, Buay Tuach 21, LJ Westbrook 12, Shawn Lipscomb 5, Dionte Smith 11, Dishawn Thompson 2.

* 3-point field goals - Central 6 (Johnson 2, Thok 1, McLeod 1, Robinson 1, Long 1), Northeast 2 (Lipscomb 1, Tuach 1).