The Albert Lea Tigers boys’ basketball team’s last-second 3-pointer to tie the game missed Thursday and the putback was good but not enough as the Tigers fell 52-51 to Rochester Century at Albert Lea High School.

After trailing the entire game, the Tigers (3-9, 1-7 Big Nine) tied the game with six minutes left and eventually took a 49-48 lead. But the Panthers (11-3, 8-1) made clutch free throws in the game’s final seconds to hang on.

The Tigers trailed 29-18 at halftime and outscored the Panthers 33-23 during the second half.

“Our half court defense in the first half kept us in the game,” Tigers head coach Lucas Kreuscher said. “In the second half, we did some trapping and started to make plays on defense for this first time all year.”

Kyle Ooms led the Tigers with 19 points and 10 rebounds but Kreuscher said everyone who played was productive.

Tyler Wichmann scored nine points, Silas Randall scored eight and Alik Smed and Aaron Klatt each chipped in six.

The Tigers play next at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28 at Winona (7-4, 5-2).