The 12th-ranked (NJCAA Div. II) Iowa Central men’s basketball team held on for a 92-89 victory over Northeast at home on Wednesday night.

The Tritons (19-5 overall, 11-4 in the ICCAC) built a 44-35 lead at intermission, but the Hawks (10-11, 6-9) hung around.

Iowa Central hit a free throw to go up three with little time left. Northeast missed a three-point attempt and Iowa Central held on to the ball until time expired.

The Tritons had a balanced scoring attack, as six players reached double digits. They got 27 points from their bench.

Aleix Sempere had a big effort with a double-double in the victory. Sempere had 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. He was 8-for-11 from the field.

CJ Mitchell had 16 opints on 6 of 11 shooting in the win. Triton Jordan Cain had a 14-point performance, and Jalen Wynter added 12 on four made shots from distance.

Tashun Pender came off the bench with 13 points for Iowa Central, while fellow reserve Jaxson Cathcart hit four threes of his own for 12.

The Tritons out rebounded the Hawks, 36-25.

Johanes Piscikas led Northeast with 26 points. He was 6-for-10 from three-point range. Ryan Huston (13), Sunny Singh (12), Scottie Johnson (10) and Marcus Coombs (10) were also in double figures.

The Tritons are back in action on Saturday when they host Southwestern at 3 p.m.

IOWA CENTRAL 92, NORTHEAST 89

Northeast — Johanes Piscikas 10-16 0-0 26, Scottie Johnson 4-8 1-2 10, Ryan Huston 5-7 2-2 13, Jack Kloth 3-4 0-0 6, Lochie Harvey 2-7 1-2 6, Lochie Harvey 2-7 1-2 5, EJ Monteagudo 0-1 0-0 0, Camden Green 1-2 0-0 2, Sunny Singh 3-8 4-4 12, Marcus Coombs 3-7 0-0 10, Rhett Kloth 2-2 1-1 5. Totals: 34-62 9-11 89.

Iowa Central — Manny Lueth 3-6 0-1 6, CJ Mitchell 6-11 4-4 16, Jalen Wynter 4-8 0-0 12, Aleix Sempere 8-11 0-2 17, Jordan Cain 4-13 5-7 14, Tashun Pender 5-8 3-4 13, Dorian Pruitt 4-10 0-0 12, Carter Loney 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 35-68 12-18 92.

Halftime score: Iowa Central led 44-35. Three-point goals: Northeast 12-26 (Piscikas 6-10, Johnson 1-3, Huston 1-3, Harvey 0-1, Green 0-1, Singh 2-4, Coombs 2-4); Iowa Central: 10-29 (Lueth 0-2, Mitchell 0-3, Wynter 4-8, Sempere 1-2, Cain 1-4, Pender 0-1, Pruitt 4-9). Total rebounds: Northeast 25, Iowa Central 36; Assists: Northeast 19, Iowa Central 16. Steals: Northeast 7, Iowa Central 6. Team fouls: Northeast 17, Iowa Central 13; Turnovers: Northeast 11, Iowa Central 10.