ESTHERVILLE - The 12th-ranked Kirkwood men's basketball team fell out  of a tie for the conference lead Saturday when they lost to  eighth-ranked Iowa Lakes, 81-64, in an ICCAC game in Estherville.

DMACC leads the standings at 8-1, followed by Iowa Lakes at 8-2 and  Kirkwood at 7-2 in the tight race.

Devonte Thedford led Kirkwood with 21 points. Luke Appel collected a  double-double with 10 ponits and 13 rebounds, but fouled out.

Iowa Lakes raced to a 19-point lead at halftime, 35-16, and raised its  overall record to 20-4.

Malcolm Clayton led the Lakers with 23 points.

Kirkwood hosts DMACC Wednesday night in a key ICCAC game.

KIRKWOOD (64): Seybian Sims 1-5 6-8 9, Devonte Thedford 7-16 6-9 21,  Luke Appel 3-6 3-5 10, Jamal Stephenson 2-9 2-2 6, DJ Purnell 1-4 0-1  2, Chris Burrell 2-3 2-3 6, Gacoby Jones 2-6 2-4 7, Griff Clark 0-1  0-0 0, Jalen Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Owen Coburn 0-0 0-0 0, Niko Gosnell 1-1  1-4 3.

IOWA LAKES (81): Malcolm Clayton 10-13 0-1 23, Justin Brookens 1-5 5-6  7, Boston Grimes 0-6 1-2 1, Keshawn Pegues 8-10 1-4 17, Kevin Cook  6-12 1-1 13, Dillon Carlson 3-5 7-8 14, Alan Kikwaki 1-4 2-2 4, Xavier  Evans 0-4 2-4 2. Totals 29-59 19-28 81.

Halftime - Iowa Lakes 35, Kirkwood 16. 3-point goals - Kirkwood 4-22  (Sims 1-4, Thedford 1-6, Appel 1-2, Stephenson 0-6, Jones 1-3, Clark  0-1), Iowa Lakes 4-15 (Clayton 3-4, Brookens 0-2, Grimes 0-5, Carlson  1-3, Evans 0-1).