PETOSKEY, MI – The Bay College Men's Basketball Team (14-2) weathered a scoring drought in the first half and pulled away in the latter half of the game for the first win in conference play of the season.  The Norse picked up a 76-50 win over North Central Michigan (4-10) on the road.

Bay started the game off in control scoring the first eight points of the contest.  The Timberwolves answered back however, and an Andrew Johnson (SO, Chicago, IL) dunk in transition would pull the host team to within one. 

It was Bay's turn to respond and they did to the tune of an 11-1 run.  Nic Williams (FR, La Crosse, WI) knocked down two three-pointers in the stretch putting the Norse up 21-10.

It was at that point that the Bay offense slowed.  They went through a four-minute stretch in which they did not score, capped off by four consecutive turnovers.  The sloppy stretch allowed North Central to take their first lead of the game with about four-and-a-half minutes remaining in the first half. 

Williams and the Norse responded with a big hit from behind the three-point arc to give the Norse back the lead.  They would never give up the lead, but the halftime score would be 30-28.

Bay started the second half hot and changed the tone of the game.  An 18-0 run put the Norse up by 20 points.  It would be over six minutes before NCMC would score in the second half, as the Norse forced three turnovers in that timeframe.  The Timberwolves went 0-6 from the floor in that run. 

That run changed the trajectory of the game as Bay held momentum for the remainder of the contest.  The Norse led by as many as 33 down the stretch, as they would blow the game open in the second half.

The Norse finished the game shooting 47.0% from the floor, including eight of 16 from three-point.  NCMC shot just 33.3% from the field.  They would hoist up a whopping 24 three-point attempts and connect on just three from long range.

Williams shot the ball well in the contest hitting four of five from deep.  He would tally 18 points, six rebounds, and two steals on the night.  Baril Mawo (SO, Manchester, NH) had 13 points and eight rebounds.  Joshua Ofori (FR, Shakopee, MN) added 11 points while Genesis Kemp (SO, Grand Rapids, MI) grabbed eight rebounds.

Johnson led the Timberwolves with ten points.  Julius Smith (SO, Joliet, IL) ended with six rebounds.

The Norse continue conference play on the road on Saturday afternoon.  They will face Muskegon Community College at 3 pm.