ESCANABA, MI - The Bay Norse Men's Basketball team (12-6) would come out on top of tightly contested battle with the Silver Lake College Lakers (3-13) on Saturday evening. The back-and-forth affair would end with a final score of 98-93.
The Norse would shoot 56.7% from the floor in the first half, including six of 15 from three-point range, but would turn the ball over ten times in the first half. The turnovers would allow the Lakers to erase an eight-point deficit and tie the game with just under eight minutes left in the first half. From there the game would remain close throughout, and even though Bay College would reclaim the lead, Silver Lake would come storming back and hit a big three-point basket on their last possession to take a 45-42 lead at the break.
In a game that featured 18 lead changes and 15 ties, the second half was an illustration of just how evenly matched the two teams were. Neither team could gain control of the matchup for long, and it was no surprised when the score was tied late in the second half. With just over four minutes remaining Silver Lake's Michael Cantre (SR, Chicago, IL) would tie the game at 81. Bay College would respond on the ensuing possession, as a Ryan Robinette (FR, Escanaba, MI) would attack the rim and score on a layup. The Norse defense would step up at a key time. A stop on the next possession would lead to a foul and Robinette stepping to the line to sink two free throws, putting the home team up by multiple possessions. Bay would force a missed shot and secure a rebound on the next possession. It would result in yet another foul and this time it would be Marcus McKenney (SO, Menominee, MI) would sink his free throw attempts, and the Norse would hold a six-point lead with three and a half minutes left.
The next two minutes would see the teams trade points, with the Norse hitting on four of four attempts from the charity strip in that stretch to maintain their lead. With 23 seconds left, the Lakers' Corey Lloyd (SR, Irmo, SC) would cut the lead to three with a three-pointer. The Norse would get just one of two free throws on the next possession, but a steal from McKenney would keep the Lakers from closing the gap. Forced to stop the clock, Silver Lake would send McKenney to the line, and he would convert both attempts. Thomas Bullock (JR, Bountiful, UT) would hit a three on the next possession to keep it interesting, but the Norse would convert their next two free throws, and time would run out on the Lakers, giving the Norse the victory by five points.
Bay College's Alfonzo Fields (SO, Milwaukee, WI) would lead all scorers with 25 points, while grabbing seven rebounds, and collecting three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Robinette would connect on three of six from three-point, which was good for 24 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals. McKenney would end his evening with 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals; while Tyler Willette (SO, Escanaba, MI) would score 11 points and grab six rebounds.
The Lakers would end up with three players scoring twenty points. Bullock, Cantre, and Byron Dean Jr. (JR, Nashville, TN) would end their games with 20 points apiece. Cantre would grab seven rebounds, whiel Bullock would secure six rebounds. Patrick Walls (FR, Chicago, IL) ended the game with ten points and seven rebounds.
The Norse are on the road this week and will travel to Minnesota on Wednesday evening to take on Dakota County Technical College. That game is scheduled to start at 8 PM.