MANITOWOC, WI - The Bay Norse Men's Basketball Team (16-8) would score the last eight points of the game to steal a victory on the road, defeating the Silver Lake Lakers (7-17) by a final score of 75-70.
A pair of Christian Alexander (FR, Dorset, UK) dunks would help the Norse would build a ten point lead late in the first half, only to see their host come storming back. The Lakers would outscore Bay 22-11 in the last six minutes of the first half to reclaim the lead. The Norse would go to the locker trailing 37-36 at the half.
The two teams would trade the lead throughout the second half. With just five minutes to play, the two teams would be tied at 63. Two baskets on the pursuing possessions would give Bay College a short-lived lead. The hosts would answer and with two minutes remaining, it was the Lakers clinging to a three-point lead. It would be almost a minute of play before Kobi Barnes (SO, Milwaukee, WI) would score to pull the Norse to within one. Needing a stop, the defense would come through for Bay, forcing a turnover. Barnes would deliver again, giving the Norse the lead. Silver Lake would falter again, turning the ball over at a crucial time. From there the Lakers were forced to foul to extend the game. Bay would seal the win at the free throw line, converting on their four attempts in the waning seconds. The Norse would take a five-point victory on the road.
"Our kids battled to the end," said Head Coach Matt Johnson. "We didn't execute very well early in the second half, but the guys were resilient and refocused on the task at hand. We did a great job on the defensive end the last three minutes. Kobi [Barnes] made a great move to give us the lead and Alfonzo [Fields] and Marcus [McKenney] nade big free throws to seal the deal. I'm very proud of our effort."
The Norse would shoot 45.8% in the matchup, including going six of 15 from behind the three-point arc. The Lakers would hit on 37.9% of their shots, but only connect on six of their 28 three-point attempts. Foul trouble would plague the Lakers as their leading scorer, Micheal Cantre (SR, Chicago, IL) would foul out and score just two points. He entered the night's action averaging 19.1 points per game.
Marcus McKenney (SO, Menominee, MI) would lead all scorers in the contest. He would end with 22 points, five rebounds, and five assists. Alexander would add 11 points and five rebounds, while Barnes would score 11 points as well.
Byron Dean Jr. (JR, Nashville, TN) would lead the Lakers with 21 points and collect four steals. Thomas Bullock (JR, Bountiful, UT) would tally a double-double, scoring 17 points, grabbing ten rebounds, while collecting seven assists and four steals. David Hughes (SR, Carbondale, IL) ended his night with 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench.
The Norse will be on the road Monday night. They will travel to Finlandia College for a 7:30 matchup.