ESCANABA, MI – The Bay College Men's Basketball Team (2-0) started their season off strong this past weekend beating Harper College (1-3) by a score of 97-66 and Gogebic Community College (1-1) by a final of 87-53. The games were part of the first of three classic tournaments the Norse are hosting this season.
Opening night saw the Norse going back-and-forth with the Harper Hawks in the early going. After eight minutes of play the two teams were tied at 13 before Bay finally snatched the momentum. Harper's offense sputtered over the next four minutes of play allowing Bay to go on a 13-1 run and take a double-digit lead that would be short-lived.
Harper hit from behind the three-point arc in their next three possessions. Darrell Luce's triple pulled the Hawks to within three, and on the next possession he was fouled as his shot went through the net. Luce would complete the comeback by making his free throw, tying the game at 26.
The momentum pendulum kept swinging and once again favored the Norse. With the game tied at 30 Baril Mawo (FR, Manchester, NH) scored six of Bay's points, including a three-pointer, in the middle of their 10-0 run.
With under a minute to play in the first half, it looked as though Bay would have a comfortable lead at the half, but Harper took advantage of some Norse miscues. Bay sent the Hawks to the free throw line eight times in the final 45 seconds of the half, and Harper hit on six of those attempts. Bay's lead was cut to six at intermission.
The Norse maintained a lead after the half. Harper was able to stick around, but the deficit was never more then 11, but no smaller then seven, until about the midpoint of the second half. The Norse blew the game open with a 23-4 run that spanned about a six-minute span of play. By the time Harper was able to respond the game was well out of reach, as Bay would cruise to a 31-point victory.
The Norse had a good offensive showing, shooting 39.5% from the field and 40.9% from three. They dominated the rebounding battle 64-45.
Jaylen Flaniken (SO, Troy, MI) came off the bench and led the Norse with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Lamar Grayson (SO, Richfield, MN) also added 16 points. Colin Hudson (FR, Escanaba, MI) picked up 11 points and 11 rebounds, while Tyrel Creger (FR, Owatonna, MN) added ten points.
The Hawks were led by Luce who had 15 points and nine rebounds. Nick Vuckovic added 15 points as well. Mick Vuckovic ended his night with 14 points while Sean Beckman had 13 points and nine rebounds.
On Saturday the Norse set the tone early, jumping out to an 11-point lead before the Samsons were on the board. Bay never really took their foot of the gas and had a 29-9 lead with nine minutes to go in the first half. Gogebic would cut the lead down to 12 at one point, but the home team was hot, shooting 55.6% and hitting five of 11 from three in the first half to build a 47-24 lead.
The Samsons were not able to change the narrative in the second half, as the Norse extended their lead throughout. Bay's biggest lead would be 34 points, which is what the final deficit ended up as.
Creger led the Norse offensively wit 14 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Genesis Kemp (FR, Grand Rapids, MI) ended with 13 points. Flaniken tallied 12 points, six points, and three assists while Grayson had 12 points.
Trevon Clark (SO, Miami, FL) led all scorers with 21 points. Donald Davis III (SO, Flint, MI) ended with 12 points and seven rebounds.
The Norse will host their second classic tournament this coming weekend. Friday's matchup will put Bay up against Mesabi Range Community and Technical College at 8 pm. Saturday the Norse will face Madison College at 5 pm. Bay will also get to see a MCCAA conference opponent as North Central Michigan will be in town for the tournament. NCMC plays Madison College at 4 pm on Friday and Mesabi Range at 1 pm on Saturday.
Photo courtesy of Ava Mottin - Bay College Sports Information Department