ESCANABA, MI - A second half surge would push the Bryant & Stratton Bobcats (20-7) past the Bay College Norse (16-9) on Saturday evening, with the road team taking a 88-75 victory.
Bay College would open the game on a 10-3 run, but the Bobcats would answer and erase the biggest lead of the game for the home team. A quick 8-0 run would give Bryant and Stratton back the lead, but the two teams would make it a back-and-forth affair all through the half. Bay would benefit from a strong inside presence in the first half, as Kobi Barnes (SO, Milwaukee, WI) would score ten and Christian Alexander (FR, Dorset, UK) would add seven before the half. Despite that the Bobcats would hold a 44-43 lead going into the locker room at half.
It looked as though the game would be close throughout, as the second half started with the two teams trading leads. With Bay leading 49-47 with just over 17 minutes to play, the outlook of the game would take a drastic turn. Bryant and Stratton would outscore the home team 22-5 over the next seven minutes of play, and put the Norse in a hole. Trailing by 15 with just under eight minutes to play, Bay would not be able to get themselves back into the game, despite their best efforts. The home team would cut the lead to ten with a minute and a half to play, but from there would go cold as they would miss their final three shots and two free throws. It would allow the Bobcats to escape with a 13-point victory.
Ryan Arndt (FR, Bark River, MI) would get red hot in the second half, hitting five of six attempts from behind the three-point line. He would end his evening with six conversions from behind the arc and lead the team with 18 points. Barnes would score 15 points and grab six rebounds, while Ryan Robinette (FR, Escanaba, MI) would add ten points and seven rebounds. Alfonzo Fields (SO, Milwaukee, WI) ended his evening with seven points, 13 rebounds, and five assists.
The Bobcats' Justin Brookens (FR, Milwaukee, WI) would lead all scorers with 26 points while collecting five steals and four assists. Kyle McDermed (SO, Frankfort, IL) added 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists off the bench, while Manny Jingco (FR, Roseville, MN) would score 11 points.
The Norse are on the road Monday night as the travel to Alpena Community College. That game will tip at 7:30 pm. Bay College will return home for their last regular season home game on Wednesday when they welcome Gogebic Community College into town. That will be Sophomore Night and Faculty and Staff Appreciation Night for the Norse.