Messenger photo by Britt Kudla: Iowa Central's CJ Mitchell reached double figures on Wednesday against Central-Columbus inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

Playing for the final time in 2025, the seventh-ranked Iowa Central men showed just how deep of a team they are.

Seven players scored in double figures as the Tritons posted a 96-65 victory over Central-Columbus here Wednesday night inside Hodges Fieldhouse.

Aleix Sempere led the way with 19 points, as he also collected 17 rebounds for Iowa Central (13-1 overall, 5-1 in the ICCAC). Tashun Pender and Dorian Pruitt each scored 14, Jordan Cain added 13, CJ Mitchell 12, and both Manny Lueth and Jalen Wynter posted 10.

For the Raiders (8-6, 3-2), Brandon Jarmon had 14 points and Keme Jones 12.

It was all Tritons from the start, as the home squad built a commanding 53-20 halftime lead. Sempere had a double-double in the opening 15 minutes, with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Lueth scored all 10 of his in the first half.

Pruitt and Pender combined for 16 points during the quick start, as Iowa Central shot 53 percent from the field and buried eight 3-pointers.

“I thought we were really solid defensively in the first half, which led to us getting outin transition and getting great looks,” ICCC head coach Mason Denholm said. “When we sit down and defend at a high level, we have the ability to play and beat anyone.”

The balance showed in the second half as well, with six different players scoring at least five points each. The Tritons also received 32 points from their bench, were plus-16 on points in the paint, and held a 52-25 advantage on the glass.

Iowa Central trailed just once in the opening two minutes and led by as many as 41 points. They committed just six turnovers.

Lueth also blocked four shots.

Sempere has five consecutive games with a double-double recorded, and has nine on the year. Mitchell has reached double figures in scoring in 13 of 14 games while Wynter has made at least two 3-pointers in all but two games, including 10 in his last four.

The Tritons, who are averaging 98 points per game, are off until Saturday, Jan. 3, when they host No. 12 Iowa Western at 3 p.m. They follow that up with trips to No. 4 Ellsworth and third-ranked Johnson County.

At the moment, the ICCAC has five teams ranked in the Top-12, as DMACC is second and Kirkwood is 10th.

Both Iowa Western and the Bears are 5-0 in conference action, as Iowa Central and Ellsworth sit in a tie at 5-1.

IOWA CENTRAL 95, CENTRAL-COLUMBUS 65

Iowa Central — Manny Lueth 4-9 0-0 10, CJ Mitchell 6-9 0-0 12, Jalen Wynter 4-10 0-0 10, Aleix Sempere 6-14 4-6 19, Jordan Cain 5-7 3-5 13, Tashun Pender 6-8 2-4 14, Dorian Pruitt 5-11 0-0 14, Jaxson Cathcart 0-0 0-0 0, Simon Gurial 0-0 0-0 0, Victor Hatungimana 0-0 0-0 0, Jon Roberts 2-6 0-0 4, Carter Loney 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 38-74 9-15 96.

Central-Columbus — Brandon Jarmon 6-12 0-0 14, Nino Nesbitt 0-6 0-0 0, Keme Jones 4-9 2-6 12, Mo Abdalla 3-7 1-2 8, Brody Johnson 3-9 2-3 8, Tee Liban 2-10 2-3 6, Malual Kong 1-5 2-2 5, Merkv Torrance 3-7 2-2 5, Clayton Thomson 2-4 0-0 6. Totals: 24-69 9-16 65.

Halftime score: Iowa Central led 53-20. Three-point goals: Iowa Central 11-29 (Lueth 2-5, Mitchell 0-2, Wynter 2-7, Sempere 3-5, Cain 0-1, Pruitt 4-9), Central-Columbus 8-24. Total rebounds: Iowa Central 52, Central-Columbus 25. Assists: Iowa Central 15, Central-Columbus 10. Steals: Iowa Central 4, Central-Columbus 8. Blocked shots: Iowa Central 6, Central-Columbus 1. Turnovers: Iowa Central 6, Central-Columbus 11. Team fouls: Iowa Central 12, Central-Columbus 11.