COON RAPIDS, MN – The Bay College Men's Basketball Team (7-6) saw a close game slip away late as the Rochester Community and Technical College Yellowjackets (9-1) shot the ball at an incredible pace in the second half to escape with a 95-86 victory on Saturday afternoon.

The teams traded leads throughout the first half.  While both showed a similar shooting percentage in the first half, the Yellowjackets connected on seven of 15 from behind the three-point arc.  The Norse put pressure on their opponents by getting to the free throw line, converting on ten of 15 attempts from the charity stripe.  Bay also enjoyed a 27-16 rebounding advantage in the first half, allowing them to claim a 44-40 lead at the half.

The Norse continued to hold a lead in the early portion of the second half.  The tide turned quickly however, as the Yellowjackets grabbed a 59-58 lead with just over 13 minutes to play, and they would never give it back.  After Rochester paired a couple of defensive stops with baskets on the offensive end, Bay was able to fight back and pull to within one with 11 minutes to play. 

It was at that point that the Yellowjackets took over.  Bay went over four minutes before they scored a point, and over five without a field goal.  A Luke Mattson (SO, Negaunee, MI) got the offense started again for the Norse, cutting the lead to seven.  Marcus Harris (FR, Brimley, MI) knocked down a three-point attempt with just under five minutes remaining that cut the deficit to four, but that would be as close as Bay could get.  Rochester answered back with a big three of their own, and continued to shoot at a torrid pace.  The Yellowjackets shot 72.7% from the field and hit 19 of 28 free throw attempts in the second half, and they would end the game with a nine-point victory.

Karmoga Lero (SO, Mahtomedi, MN) led all scorers with 26 points.  Ray Adams (SO, Rochester, MN) added 20 points, while Kong Kong (SO, Mankato, MN) ended with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Christian Alexander (SO, Dorset, UK) led the Norse with 20 points and 14 rebounds.  Matt Wagner (FR, Marinette, WI) hit three of six from three-point to help him score 16 points.  Harris hit four of five opportunities from behind the arc and ended with 15 points, while Khalid Fleming (FR, Detroit, MI) added ten points.

The Norse will face the host school on day two of the Anoka-Ramsey Community College Classic on Sunday.  That game will tip at 3 pm.