ESCANBA, MI – The Norse Men's Basketball Team (7-12) saw a 21-point lead evaporate and the Kankakee Community College Cavaliers (11-8) came from behind for a 71-68 overtime victory.  The game was a part of the annual Quality Inn & Suites Classic.

Bay was able to minimize the Cavalier runs early in the first half.  The two teams traded leads in the early minutes, but a Matt Wagner (SO, Marinette, WI) three tied the game at ten six and a half minutes into the game. 

The Cavaliers got a big dunk from Kevin Vance (FR, Chicago Heights, IL) and after a couple of stops and a layup, they led by four.  The Norse converted on their next two possessions, and the teams then traded baskets to knot the game at 16.

The Norse defense stepped up at that point, and Kankakee went the next six minutes without scoring.  Meanwhile Bay found a rhythm on offense.  Jabril Ndiaye (FR, Mount Dora, FL) hit a jumper, Marcus Johnson (FR, Iron Mountain, MI) nailed a triple and then finished at the rim, and Wagner knocked one down from beyond the arc and converted a pair of free throws.  Bay suddenly had a comfortable double-digit lead after the 12-0 run.

The last three minutes of the first half was a flurry of baskets that ended with Bay holding a 34-25 lead at the half.

Bay started off the second half hot, while the Cavaliers struggled offensively.  It would be six minutes before Kankakee knocked down a field goal, allowing the Norse to start the half on a 10-3 run. 

The Norse looked like they were going to roll on to a big victory.  Chris Dobessi (SO, Detroit, MI) converted a dunk, and Ashton Janke (FR, Dollar Bay, MI) hit a three-pointer to give the Norse their biggest lead of the game.  With just under 13 minutes remaining Bay held a 49-28 lead.

Kankakee was not ready to let the game go, however.  An 11-0 run over the next four minutes cut the deficit to ten.  Offensive rebounds contributed to second chance points as the Cavaliers fought back into the game.  The Norse still led by 12 with seven minutes remaining.

The Norse went cold over the next few minutes and the Cavaliers made a charge.  Dexter Shouse (FR, Terre Haute, IN) hit three's on back-to-back possessions, and Chaz Hinds (SO, Indianapolis, IN) scored on a put back, and suddenly the Cavaliers were down two with three and a half to play.

The two teams traded baskets, and a pair of free throws, and the Cavaliers found themselves in possession of the ball down by two.  Damari Nixon (SO, Chicago, IL) finished at the rim with 52 seconds remaining to tie the game at 60.  After an offensive foul from the Norse, Kankakee had a look to win the game in regulation, but the deep three was no good, sending the game into overtime. 

After a stop on the first possession the Norse got a basket at the rim from Dobessi to take the lead in overtime.  A'Keion Gill (SO, Champaign, IL) hit a pair of free throws on the following possession, and the Norse went to Dobessi again.  This time he would finish at the rim and get fouled, hitting the free throw to put Bay up by three.

Gill split a pair of free throws on the next possession, but the Norse missed the front end of bonus free throws on the ensuing try.  After a turnover and a missed Bay three, Gill tied the game up with a layup. 

The Norse split another pair of free throws with just over two minutes remaining for a 66-65 lead.  The Cavaliers managed to take it back on the next possession, but Hinds was called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim after his dunk.  Bay once again could only make one of the two free throws, leaving the game tied at 67 with 1:43 remaining.

Bay could not convert either attempt after being fouled on the ensuing possession.  After Ibrahima Athie (FR, Cincinnati, OH) put in a pair from the charity stripe, the Norse had a long possession with a three-pointer that came up off the mark.  The put back on the play was no good, but a foul once again gave the Norse a chance to score with the clock stopped.  Unfortunately, they were only able to connect on one of two attempts, putting them down one with 19 seconds remaining.  Bay was forced to foul to extend the game and Gill buried both of his shots from the charity stripe.

The Norse had one last chance to force a second overtime, but the Wagner three-point attempt fell short, allowing the Cavaliers to escape with the three-point victory.

The Cavaliers outrebounded the Norse 30-15 in the second half, including 12 offensive boards to help lead the comeback.  The Norse hit on just two of ten from behind the arc over the same time period.  Shooting woes continued for Bay as they were just two of eight in overtime, including not connecting on five three-point attempts.  The home team was just four of ten from the free throw line in the extra frame, while the Cavaliers were seven of eight.

Dobessi led all scorers with 23 points and grabbed six rebounds.  Wagner ended up with twenty points and five rebounds for the Norse.  Ndiaye collected eight rebounds.

Gill led the Cavaliers with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Nixon added 15 points.  Hinds pulled down 11 rebounds before he fouled out.

The Norse will square off with Bryant & Stratton on Sunday afternoon as the finale of the Quality Inn & Suites Classic.  The Bobcats opened up the classic with a 85-72 victory over Dakota County Technical College earlier in the afternoon.  Kankakee will faceoff with DCTC at 11 am on Sunday morning, while the Norse and Bryant & Stratton will tip at 1 pm.