The matchup between Central Lakes College and Vermilion lived up to the hype with the Raiders coming out on the winning side of a 109-103 score in double-overtime.
Radamus Jones scored 27 points and N'Gai Dixon followed with 21 as the Raiders, who entered the game with a No. 6 ranking in the latest NJCAA poll, pulled way in the second overtime to send the Ironmen, ranked No. 4, to just their second loss of the year.
It was the 12th straight win for CLC and they moved to 3-0 in division play and 15-1 overall. The Ironmen dropped to 2-1 in division play and 14-2 overall and had their nine-game winning streak snapped. They have only losses to CLC and Rochester while the Raiders defeated Rochester for the Yellowjackets only loss earlier in the season.
Although CLC struggled on the boards, they managed to grow an 18-11 lead at the 12:21 mark of the half, and built their largest lead at 25-11. The Ironmen cut the margin, but two big three-pointers from Ronald Bacon at the end of the first half gave the Raiders a 46-36 lead at halftime.
In the second half Vermilion started to cut into the lead behind some hot shooting from William Miller who was 5-8 from behind the arc and finished with 21 points. The Ironmen finally tied the game at 86 on a three pointer from Miller with 27.7 seconds left.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Raiders had a chance to put the game away with free-throws in the first overtime but couldn't do it. They didn't squander the opportunity in the second overtime as Dixon hit two big free throws down the stretch to put the Raiders up by four and the game out of reach.
Vermilion 36 50 12 5 - 103
Central Lakes 46 40 12 11 - 109
CENTRAL LAKES
Darsean Woodson 5, DeShun Patterson 19, Radamus Jones 27, Shawn McGee 3, Trey Heinsius 4, Lowell Griggs 3, N'Gai Dixon 21, Lamontrell Fuller 2, Darrius Canty 15, Ronald Bacon 8, Jaelyn Price 2. FG 37-69 (54 percent), FT 25-37 (68 percent). 3-point 10-18 (56 percent). Division: 3-0. Overall: 15-1. Next: host Mesabi 3 p.m. Saturday.
VERMILION
Robbie Crawford 9, William Miller 21, Eddarie Hibbler 24, Devonta Whitaker 2, Tommy Butler 19, Christian Rodriguez 8, Sean Knight 19, T Michael Cunigan 1. FG 36-82 (44 percent), FT 18-29 (62 percent). 3-point 13-28 (46 percent).
ADVERTISEMENT
