GRAND RAPIDS, MI – The Bay College Men's Basketball Team (11-4, 1-0) got off on the right foot in their conference opener by overcoming an 11-point first half deficit and taking an 88-75 victory over the Grand Rapids Community College Raiders (11-3, 0-1).
The Norse were tasked with having to step on defense to get back in the game. Grand Rapids looked to be in control in the early going, building an 11-point lead halfway through the first half.
Jaylen Flaniken (SO, Troy, MI) proved to be a key factor in a 15-5 run that tied the game. He connected on three shots in the stretch, including a three-pointer. Bay continued their run, grabbing a 37-31 lead with just under five minutes to play in the first half. A Lamar Grayson (SO, Richfield, MN) layup with 3:30 on the clock gave Bay their biggest lead of the game at seven.
The Raiders closed the score to within four at the break, going into the locker room down 43-39 at halftime.
The Norse managed to fend off every Raider advance early in the second half. Genesis Kemp (FR, Grand Rapids, MI) finished at the rim and was fouled with just under 17 minutes to play. He would complete the three-point play to give Bay an eight-point lead.
Brockton Kohler (SO, Greenville, MI) helped Grand Rapids respond with a three-pointer, which was followed by Herman Brown (SO, Detroit, MI) making the score 55-52 in favor of the Norse.
Bay followed that with a key run. Grayson, Kemp, and Flaniken hit baskets on consecutive possessions, opening up a nine-point lead for the road team. The Norse were able to keep the Raiders at bay with many key plays, including a steal and a dunk by Kemp with just over ten minutes to play.
The Norse turned up the pressure in the latter half of the second, limiting Raider opportunities with a strong rebounding effort. Grand Rapids pushed to within eight, only to see Flaniken and Kemp hit from deep on back-to-back possessions, followed by Justin Nelson (SO, Iron River, MI) knocking down a shot, and opening up a 77-61 lead for the Norse.
The Raiders would never really be able to cut into that lead from that point forward. Bay would see their biggest lead with just under two minutes to play with a score of 88-70.
Bay limited Grand Rapids to just one offensive rebound in the second half. The Norse did not shoot well from deep, going three of 18 from three for the game, but hit on 42.7% of their field goals for the game. They did leave some points on the free throw line, missing 11 of their 32 attempts.
The Raiders were 35.9% from the field and were eight of 26 from three-point. They were 22 of 27 from the charity stripe. Grand Rapids turned the ball over 21 times compared to the 14 Norse turnovers.
Grayson led the Norse with 18 points and six rebounds. Kemp contributed 17 points off the bench, as well as five rebounds, all of which came in the second half. Flaniken added 15 points, while Tyrel Creger (FR, Owatonna, MN) ended up with 11 points, nine rebounds, and five assists.
Kohler paced the Raiders with 18 points and eight rebounds. Danyel Bibbs (SO, Saginaw, MI) added 15 points and seven rebounds.
Bay will continue MCCAA Northern Conference play on Wednesday as they welcome North Central Michigan College to the U.P. That game is scheduled to tip at approximately 7 pm.