ST. PAUL, MN - The Bay College Norse Men's Basketball Team (4-1) snapped the seven-game win streak of Lake Region State College (7-3), holding on for a 79-69 win at the neutral site of Hamline University on Sunday afternoon.
The Norse would take a commanding lead late in the first half as they went on a 21-2 run to take a 34-18 lead with just under six minutes to play. The NJCAA Division 1 Royals were not ready to give in, however. Bay did not convert from the field for the next three-minutes, allowing Lake Region State to close the gap.
It looked as though the Norse regained control in the final seconds leading to halftime as they pushed back to a ten-point advantage, but the Royals had a run to end the half. After a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left, a quick stop left Lake Region State with another opportunity. Jeremiah Johnson (FR, Albertville, MN) got a strong look at a three-pointer, which did not fall, but was fouled after the release. He was sent to the charity stripe and connected on all three attempts, giving the Royals momentum heading into the locker room as they trailed 42-37.
The Norse seemed to snatch that momentum back in the early going of the second half, extending the lead to double-digits in the first few minutes. Bay held a comfortable lead for much of the second half and led 62-51 with 11 minutes to play. A 13-5 run over the next six minutes looked like it was going to put the game away.
At that point the Royals went into pressure mode, employing a full-court press in an attempt to speed up the tempo and force the Norse into bad decisions and turnovers. The result was Bay going cold from the field and Lake Region State making a late comeback attempt.
The Royals cut a 19-point deficit to just eight with two minutes to play but were ineffective on offense from that point on. A pair of free throws with under a minute to play gave Bay a ten-point victory as time ran out on Lake Region State's comeback bid.
Bay was 41.9% from the floor and hit on 13 of 33 three-point attempts. They are hoping to improve from the free throw line going forward, as they converted just 14 of 24 attempts. The Norse grabbed 53 rebounds but turned the ball over 21 times in the contest.
Lake Region State was 28.2% from the floor and a paltry three of 23 from three-point. They also left some points at the charity stripe converting 22 of 32 attempts. They grabbed 48 rebounds and had just 12 turnovers on the game.
Trevor Nolan (FR, Munising, MI) provided a big spark off the bench and was the leading scorer for Bay. He was deadly from long range hitting five of eight from beyond the arc, many of which were well beyond the arc, for 15 points. Taveon Vann (SO, Milwaukee, WI) picked up a double-double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks. Emerson Droubie (FR, Cambridge, MN) had 13 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals, while William Kelly (SO, Florence, WI) added 11 points.
Quayvant Douglas (SO, Brooklyn Center, MN) led the Royals with 12 points and five rebounds. Jeremiah Johnson finished with nine points and four rebounds while Brennan Johnson (FR, Tioga, ND) ended with nine points and seven rebounds.
The Norse will be on the road on Tuesday evening as they travel to Gogebic Community College to take on the Samsons. The two teams met earlier in the month when the Norse took a 79-65 decision over the Samsons back on November 12. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 pm.