Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Iowa Central's Terrius Walker shoots on Saturday inside Hodges Fieldhouse. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

The Iowa Central men were unable to duplicate their strong first half here Saturday, falling to Southwestern, 68-55.

After building a four-point edge at the break, the Tritons were outscored inside Hodges Fieldhouse, 44-27, over the final 20 minutes of play.

Mekhi Wilson hit six 3-pointers and scored 26 points as the lone Iowa Central (3-11 overall, 0-5 in ICCAC) player in double figures. Mile Fant added nine with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals, with Riley Edwards recording seven points and six assists.

“We executed in the first half and didn’t in the second,” ICCC head coach Chad Helle said. “When you do that at this level, you don’t often come out on top. We have to figure that out, but once we do, we’re really going to take off.”

For Southwestern (9-8, 2-4), Fatih Huyuk led three players in double figures with 14. James Braddy had 13 and Joseph Bell 10 as the Spartans took advantage of a plus-15 edge in rebounds and were plus-10 on the Tritons in second chance points.

“It’s the little things that make all the difference in the end,” Helle said. “Getting a loose ball here or there comes back to hurt you.”

Iowa Central entered the contest on a two-game winning streak after picking up victories in Minnesota late last month. They look to rebound on Wednesday at Northeast.