Rosemount, Minn. — January 24, 2026
Iowa Lakes Community College put together a determined second-half surge but couldn't overcome a slow start, falling 93–85 on the road to Dakota County Technical College on Saturday afternoon.

After trailing 52–31 at halftime, the Lakers responded with a 54-point second half— their highest-scoring half of the season—but the early deficit proved too large to erase.

Lakers' Offensive Leaders

Timothy Ofesi – 14 points, 14 rebounds

Ofesi set the tone inside, finishing with 14 points (6–10 FG, 2–5 FT) and a dominant 14 rebounds—including five offensive boards. He added 3 assists, 3 steals, and a block in 28 minutes, providing consistent energy and toughness throughout the comeback effort.

Steven Martinez – 21 points

Avila‑Martinez led the Lakers in scoring with 21 points (9–17 FG, 1–2 3FG, 2–2 FT) while grabbing 8 rebounds and adding 3 assists. He also tallied 2 blocks and a steal in one of his most complete performances of the season.

Jorge Castro – 19 points

Castro provided consistent scoring with 19 points (8–19 FG, 3–11 3FG) and pulled down 7 rebounds. His perimeter shooting in the second half helped Iowa Lakes chip away at Dakota County's lead.

Byron Maina – 10 points

Maina delivered 10 points (4–7 FG, 2–4 3FG) and added 3 assists, 2 rebounds, a steal, and a block. His timely scoring stretches gave the Lakers needed momentum during their offensive push.

Jermaine Freeman – 11 points

Freeman finished with 11 points (2–12 FG, 1–5 3FG, 6–9 FT) while contributing across the board with 3 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 3 rebounds in 33 minutes. His pressure defense helped spark transition opportunities.

Supporting Contributions

• Jack Wadlington: 4 points (2–7 FG), 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 deflections, 1 steal, 1 block in 33 minutes.
• Dominic Preiser: 4 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block, +3 plus/minus in 10 high-energy minutes.
• Aaron Armstrong: 2 points (2–2 FT), 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal in 7 minutes.
• Joey Gagnon: 2 rebounds and a block in 9 minutes.
• Germaal Forde: Added 1 rebound and 1 assist off the bench.

Game Flow

Dakota County built a strong first-half advantage by converting in transition and attacking early in possessions. Iowa Lakes responded after halftime with increased ball pressure, better rebounding, and a more aggressive offensive approach.

The Lakers outscored Dakota County by 13 after the break, closing the gap to single digits multiple times, but the early 21-point deficit proved too steep to fully overcome.

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