Photo by Paul DeCoursey Thomas Akamarmoi puts up a shot for Iowa Central against Dakota County on Monday.

In the final game before an extended holiday break, the Iowa Central men found a way to prevail.

Tray Croft scored 23 points to lead five Tritons in double figures, as Iowa Central downed Dakota County here Monday night, 92-86, inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

Croft, who has topped 20 points five times already this season, had just three points at the half for the Tritons (6-1 overall).

“It wasn’t pretty one bit, but a win is a win,” ICCC head coach Dennis Pilcher said. “It kind of felt like we were looking ahead to the upcoming break instead of focusing on the game in front of us.

“We knew Dakota County would come out tough and they hit some shots from the outside that hurt us. But to our credit, the kids battled and got the victory.”

Thomas Akamarmoi had 15 points, Dallas Bailey and Kemryn Jenkins each scored 12, and Royshawn Webb added 10 for Iowa Central. Croft, who is listed at 6-0, grabbed a team-high nine rebounds with five assists.

“They did a good job of taking Tray away there in the first half,” Pilcher said. “I didn’t think we moved the ball well, shot the ball well or did much of anything well. We had too many guys standing around and not looking to be a threat.

“Late, though, we made some plays and knocked down shots at the free-throw line.”

Croft was 9 of 12 at the line as the Tritons went 22-of-31 as a team. Iowa Central shot 32-of-61 from the field and made six 3-pointers.

For Dakota County, Demario Armstrong had 23 points off the bench, sinking six 3-pointers. Cole Murray posted a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds, but leading scorer Harlyn Owens II was held 10 points below his average with 15.

The Tritons are off until next Monday when they host the Simpson JV.

IOWA CENTRAL 92, DAKOTA COUNTY 86

Iowa Central — Tray Croft 7-16 9-12 23, Royshawn Webb 4-8 2-4 10, Dallas Bailey 4-8 3-5 12, Collin Shannon 1-4 1-2 3, Thomas Akamarmoi 4-8 6-7 15, Robert Hawkins 0-0 0-0 0, Bay Etheredge 0-1 0-0 0, Kemryn Jenkins 4-6 0-0 12, Jaden Kephart 0-0 0-0 0, Raphael Jegede 4-4 0-0 8, Moses Jones 3-4 0-0 6, Justin Taylor 1-2 1-1 3. Totals: 32-61 22-31 92.

Dakota County — Harlyn Owens II 5-16 3-5 15, Cole Murray 8-12 3-3 21, Dontae Jones 1-4 0-0 2, Martez Rodgers 5-9 1-2 14, Kameron Bettie 1-4 3-4 5, Keith Durham 1-3 2-2 5, Abdijabar Mursel 0-3 0-0 0, Kit Piepkorn 0-3 0-0 0, Demario Armstrong 8-13 1-3 23, Keaven Fikes 0-1 1-2 1. Totals: 29-68 14-21 86.

Halftime score: Iowa Central led 42-36. 3-point goals: Iowa Central 6-18 (Croft 0-3, Bailey 1-4, Shannon 0-2, Akamarmoi 1-2, Etheredge 0-1, Jenkins 4-5, Jones 0-1); Dakota County 14-33 (Owens II 2-8, Murray 2-4, Jones 0-2, Rodgers 3-6, Durham 1-2, Mursel 0-1, Piepkorn 0-2, Armstrong 6-8). Total rebounds: Iowa Central 43, Dakota County 35. Steals: Iowa Central 6, Dakota County 6. Blocked shots: Dakota County 3. Assists: Iowa Central 16, Dakota County 12. Turnovers: Iowa Central 19, Dakota County 17.