Ray Victor ended 2012 with a personal milestone of a Double Double in the 74-73 loss to Dordt College in the Crooked Lake Classic. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

Halstead Chiverton had a quiet night, but chipped in with 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists. Photo: Charlie Jackson/VINO

The Royals came into the contest after a tough win against Goshen College (Ind.) the previous night to lift their winning streak to three games heading into this contest but despite Victor’s performance and Ian Wilhelm reaching the 1000 career points mark, they let slip a lead in the final quarter to lose.

In the first half with things knotted up at 20-20, the Royals went on a 9-0 run led by six points from Ray Victor. Victor finished the first half near a double-double with nine points and nine boards. A big three pointer from way outside the arc by Wilhelm allowed the Royals to go into the break with a 37-29 lead.

Warner opened the game up in the second half and stretched their lead to the largest in the game at 42-31. The lead would quickly erode, however, as Dordt climbed back into things with just five minutes gone by in the half. With just over four minutes remaining, the Royals held an eight point lead and looked to be on the verge of upsetting the visitors. However, the Defenders had too much fight in them and came all the way back to finally take their first lead of the half at the 3:20 mark, capping a 12-0 run to make it 72-68.

Warner, not done, came back to tie things up at 73-73. Dordt answered taking it down the court with their playmaker Cliff Warner with the ball in his hands. A perfectly lobbed pass allowed an open lay-up to put the Defenders ahead 75-73 with less than six seconds left in regulation time. Mark St. Fort took the inbound pass and charged up the court but time expired before the Royals could get a shot off.

Ray Victor recorded a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Halstead Chiverton finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 assists.

The loss drops the Royals to 9-5 overall, while the No. 13 Defenders improve to 13-3. Warner will get a short break before they return to the hardwood to take on Concordia University (Canada) at Northwood University.