MOUNT PLEASANT, MI – The MCCAA schedule-makers must have used a crystal ball to conjure up the schedule this season as they gave basketball fans an exciting matchup on Saturday afternoon. The Bay College Norse Men's Basketball Team (17-4, 7-0 MCCAA) traveled to play the only other undefeated team in the MCCAA Northern Conference and came out on top in a battle with the Mid Michigan Lakers (15-5, 6-1 MCCAA) by a final score of 96-86.
It was a battle throughout, even though the Norse never trailed in the contest, Mid Michigan gave the Norse all they could handle. After leading by just two with about five minutes to play in the first half, Bay got a much-needed spark from a couple of players off the bench. Genesis Kemp (FR, Grand Rapids, MI) scored eight points in that final run of the first half. Jaylen Flaniken (SO, Troy, MI) hit from beyond the arc, and then finished off an old-fashioned three-point play. Starters Colin Hudson (FR, Escanaba, MI) and Lamar Grayson (SO, Richfield, MN) each hit three-pointers and the Norse went on a 17-6 run to end the half with a 47-34 lead.
It looked as though things would be comfortable for the road team as they claimed their biggest lead of the game early in the second half at 14 points. The Lakers answered back however, going on a 14-4 run that closed the margin to four points. A questionable call on a shot clock violation and a Norse turnover leading to a Laker basket capped off a frustrating turn of events for Bay, and very easily could have shifted momentum to Mid Michigan for the remainder of the game.
The Norse stepped up in the face of adversity however. Jacquez Overstreet (SO, Appleton, WI) connected on a shot from behind the three-point arc on the next possession. A few minutes later Justin Nelson (SO, Iron River, MI) was fouled as his shot went in. He completed the three-point play from the free throw line, giving the Norse a 65-55 lead.
From that point on Bay had an answer for every Laker advance. The Norse took a ten-point victory on the road to close out the first half of the conference season undefeated and in sole possession of first place in the Northern Conference for the first time this season.
Bay had another strong shooting outing hitting 55.6% of their shots from the floor and knocking down eight of 19 from three. They also connected on 18 of 25 free throw attempts.
Mid Michigan entered the game as the top shooting team in conference play but could not match the Norse. They were good from 48.6% of their shots and only hit on five of 23 attempts from deep. While they were solid from the free throw line, they only got to the charity stripe 12 times, converting nine of those.
Hudson had a big day for the Norse and went eight of 12 from the floor, two of four from three-point, and four of five from the free throw line. That meant he totaled 22 points to go with six rebounds. Grayson who is coming off of back-to-back weeks of being named the MCCAA Northern Conference Player of the Week put forth another strong case for the award again, collecting 19 points and three assists. Overstreet chipped in 14 points and three assists while Kemp had 13 points and six rebounds. Nelson finished with 11 points and six rebounds. Tyrel Creger (FR, Owatonna, MN) had eight assists in the game and Flaniken had six rebounds. They both scored eight points apiece.
Javel Lewis Jr. (SO, Lansing, MI) led the charge for the Lakers with 32 points and 12 rebounds. Delon McCloud (FR, Kentwood, MI) had 20 points, five rebounds, and four assists. Jayden Sims (SO, Toledo, OH) added 17 points while Satchel Love (SO, Detroit, MI) had 11 points and six rebounds.
Bay will kickoff the second half of the conference season on the road Wednesday evening. They will take on the North Central Michigan College Timberwolves who are 6-12 overall and 3-4 in conference play. The two teams met back on January 18 in Escanaba and the Norse opened up a big lead and took a 98-62 victory. The rematch on Wednesday is scheduled to tip at 7:30 pm.