Ginuwine Tropnas (Photo by Noah Clooten)

Ginuwine Tropnas (Photo by Noah Clooten)

DEVILS LAKE — Lake Region State College men’s basketball led by as many as 14 in the first half on Sunday.

But the Royals (12-12, 4-4) couldn’t hang on. They led by only three at halftime and ended up losing 87-79 to Miles Community College (11-13, 3-5) at the Devils Lake Sports Center.

“When they needed buckets, they had their guys step up and hit them,” LRSC head coach Jared Marshall said of the Pioneers. “Opportunities that we didn’t take care of. And, I mean, our defense wasn’t perfect tonight, but when we needed plays on offense, we didn’t step up and make them.”

Poet Davis returned from injury and led the team with 20 points off the bench. But the Royals went just 20-of-34 from the free throw line as their lead slipped away.

“I feel like that’s the third or the fourth game it’s cost us this year,” Marshall said. “I really do believe it’s cost us games. It’s something we are really emphasizing in practice.”

The Royals gradually built a lead in the first half, running it up to 36-22 at one point. Ginuwine Tropnas made a pair of two-handed dunks, and LRSC had two separate 7-0 stretches in its favor.

Davis played his first game Jan. 5. He didn’t start, but he provided a spark off the bench with eight first-half points.

Miles chipped away with an 18-7 run in its favor. Bronson Chambers capped the first half with an LRSC basket, but the lead was only 45-40 at halftime.

“They were the tougher team offensively and defensively,” Marshall said. “They snatched O-boards from us. They were posting up harder than we were. They were more physical… We only had six assists today, which isn’t like us.”

It took all of 50 seconds for Miles to tie it up in the second half. Marshall took a timeout after a game-tying three, and Miles went ahead on free throws after the break.

Alvin Payne tied it up, and LRSC regained a three-point lead after a Chambers and-one. The Pioneers hit their second game-tying three of the half, and led 54-51 before the Royals scored six straight.

LRSC maintained a 62-59 lead. And that was the last advantage it had. Miles stayed locked in under pressure and hit a go-ahead three to make it 64-62. At 64-64, the Pioneers made a 5-0 run. The Royals’ free throw problems continued to plague them, as Tropnas missed four consecutive attempts.

“We’ve gotta have them, and we just aren’t hitting them,” Marshall said. “It’s a mental thing at this point.”

The closest LRSC had the deficit was 76-75 after Davis swished a three and Chambers made his second and-one. But as has been a theme for these Royals, they couldn’t get over the hump and ended up settling for a tight loss.

Davis had 12 points in the second half. He shot 6-of-16 overall and 4-of-11 from three.

“I’d like to see the percentages be a little better,” Marshall said. “But he just has the ability to kind of stretch the floor and open up driving lanes. He’s like the sun, man. He draws an orbit to ‘em. He makes guys guard out further.”

Marshall said he played Davis more than he wanted to — 21 minutes and 47 seconds — because he was the main source of scoring for LRSC on Sunday. He anticipates using him more as the second half of the season rolls on.

The Royals are still in contention for the No. 2 seed in the Mon-Dak.

“I think we have the confidence to beat anybody,” Marshall said. “We just haven’t been able to put 40 minutes together, and if we can’t figure that out in the next six games — and it’s not gonna get any easier on the road — then we’re gonna be in trouble.”