MUSKEGON, MI - Not even facing the nation's leading scorer could derail what has been a special season for the Bay College Norse Men's Basketball Team (21-4, 11-0 MCCAA).
The Norse won their 12th straight game on Saturday, and stayed undefeated and in first place in the Michigan Community College Athletic Association North Division standings, by beating the Muskegon Jayhawks (9-16, 3-8 MCCAA), 74-55.
Saturday's win was accomplished despite 30 points from Vern Nash (SO, Muskegon, MI), who came into the weekend leading the nation in scoring at 24.5 points per game. Norse freshman Tyrel Creger (FR, Owatonna, MN) drew the defensive assignment on Nash, and was able to contain him, despite the final stat line that Nash was able to put on the scoreboard.
"He's really, really good," Bay College Head Coach Matt Johnson said of Nash. "Ty did a great job. I mean, we knew he was going to score a bunch. I thought we did a pretty good job defensively, the first half, especially. I thought our defensive energy was great. Ty locked him up and did a really nice job. He (Nash) might be the best player in our league. The kid can flat-out score."
For his part, Creger relished the opportunity to defend Nash again.
"It's fun guarding people like that," Creger said. "That's what makes you better. He had a good game, though. He just hit some tough shots, man. Some REAL tough ones."
But the Norse have a lot more firepower, from a lot more people, as has been the case all season long. This time, Bay had four players score in double figures, while the Jayhawks had no other player crack double figures besides Nash.
Bay jumped off to a nine-point lead early at 15-6, and held that type of lead for most of the first half. Nash made a three to bring Muskegon to within 26-18, but the Norse stepped on the gas from there. Collin Hudson (FR, Escanaba, MI) scored inside, Creger nailed a three, and Jaquez Overstreet (SO, Appleton, WI) sank a triple. When Creger swished another one from deep, the score was 42-24.
The Norse kept going in the second half, building their biggest lead at 66-40 on a Baril Mawo (FR, Manchester, NH) put back. Bay coasted down the stretch to post the 19-point win.
Creger had his typical all-around offensive game from the point guard position, scoring 18 points, dishing out seven assists, grabbing seven rebounds, and two steals on defense. He did not commit a turnover, and he played all 40 minutes.
"I thought our team did a good job of moving the ball, and just getting to open spots," Creger said. "They were in a zone [defense] for a lot of the game, and so, when someone's in a zone like that, it's just moving the ball, and finding space. I'm glad that we executed well."
Creger made four of his eight three-point attempts, and nailed all four free throws, including two technical foul shots after Nash received a T.
Escanaba graduate Colin Hudson had a great first half, pouring in 14 points, as the Norse grabbed a 47-26 lead heading into the locker room. Hudson finished with 16 points, six rebounds, two assists, and he had a steal on defense.
Overstreet chipped in with 12 points, and he had four assists to go along with six rebounds. And Genesis Kemp (FR, Grand Rapids, MI) came off the bench, as usual, to score 11 points and get seven rebounds, in his 19 minutes of play.
"Everybody contributed, and they have been all year long," Johnson said. "All the credit goes to the guys. They work hard. They've done a nice job. We have to continue to battle. We've got three tough ones. We've got to make sure we finish out those three and put ourselves in the position we want to be in heading into the post-season."
Bay is now 21-4 overall, and more importantly, 11-0 in conference play, with three regular season games remaining on the schedule.
The Norse hold a one-game lead over second place Mid-Michigan, which will visit Escanaba for a season-ending war next Tuesday night.
But before that, the Norse have to avoid a slip-up this Friday when they travel to Grayling to face the Kirtland Firebirds, a team the Norse beat by 13 points earlier this season in Escanaba. Kirtland is 3-14 overall, and 3-8 in conference play this season.
Wednesday's game starts at 7:30.
Story courtesy of Jack Hall, RRN Sports, edited for content.