MERRILLVILLE | When it's as close as Saturday's 53-44 Lake Central win over Merrillville, it often comes down to just a few defensive breakdowns.

In the waning minutes, the Pirates left Indians sophomore Tye Wilburn open for three 3-pointers, and those shots ended up being daggers.

"We started swinging it around and I was just the open man," Wilburn said. "It comes from your heart. If you don't want it, you're not going to take those shots and I wanted it tonight so I took them."

Wilburn also hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to seal the Duneland Athlete Conference victory for Times No. 3 L.C.

Jelani Pruitt kept the Pirates (6-6, 5-4) in it by himself. The junior forward had all 11 of the Bucs' first-quarter points and finished with 23 points to lead all scorers.

"He was a big reason for their runs," Indians coach Dave Milausnic said. "He plays awfully hard."

Each time the Indians tried to pull away in the first half, the Pirates made the necessary plays to keep it close. The lead was only 28-22 at the break.

At the half, L.C. was also winning the rebounding battle 12-3. But that would change.

"They crashed harder than us in the second half," Milausnic said. "Pruitt is unbelievable and we didn't match his intensity inside."

Lake Central (13-2, 8-1) didn't come out of the locker room with the same zeal in the third quarter. Merrillville had the rebounding edge 18-10 in the final two frames, after coach T. J. Lux stressed during the break.

"We've got some nice guys on our team," Lux said. "We've got to develop some of that toughness and realize everything that they're capable of."

The win keeps the Indians in the driver's seat in the DAC, one game ahead of Valparaiso.

"I don't think we were sharp offensively or defensively," Milausnic said. "You hope that every game you get better, but you're going to have to win some ugly performances. I think today was one of those."

Glenn Robinson III had 21 points and nine rebounds for the Indians.