OVERTIME THRILLER: Norse Rally Past Finlandia

HANCOCK---The Bay College Norse men's basketball team rallied from 23 points down in the second half to force overtime, then beat the Finlandia University Lions, 95-92, Monday in Hancock. The Norse finish the regular season with a 20-9 record and denied the Lions their first win of the season. Finlandia finished with a 0-21 record.

But for much of the night, it looked like the Lions would get that first "W".

Jamal Deshields-Beard came out on fire for Finlandia, knocking down two triples and 12 total points in the first five minutes of the game. But he got his third foul midway through the first half, and eventually fouled out with 18 points.

Dylan Underwood had a triple and Jacob Oom made two three-pointers as the Lions went into the locker room with a 37-29 lead.

And to start the second half, Underwood scored ten straight points, giving Finlandia a 49-31 lead.

And the Lions grew their lead even further as Superior Central graduate Joe Heinonen hit two three-pointers. All of a sudden, Bay trailed, 57-34.

The Norse began to chip away as Alfonzo Fields took the team onto his back on offense, and the defense forced several Finlandia turnovers.

Tyler Willette scored a basketwith 5:25 left, and then Bay got a break when Ryan Robinette committed a foul, but Underwood received a technical foul for unsportsmanlike conduct. That was Underwood's fifth and final foul, and the Norse climbed to within seven.

Fields was a dominant force driving to the basket. His hoop with 1:36 to play closed the gap to 80-77, and then after the Lions got one free throw, Fields scored again, to make it an 81-79 game. Finlandia senior Austin Carlson answered to restore a four-point lead with 40.7 seconds left, but Fields sank another basket to make it 83-81.

The Norse forced a bad pass with 16.7 seconds to go, giving the team a chance to tie or win with a shot.

But Christian Alexander was called for a moving screen violation, giving him his fifth personal foul, and giving the Lions possession of the ball.

Bay was left with no choice but to foul, and were fortunate when both free throws were missed, giving them another chance. With 2.7 seconds left, the Norse inbounded the bal, and Fields, with two men on him, heaved up a prayer that fell at the buzzer.

That shot forced overtime, and the Norse had new life.

Fields gave the Norse an 87-85 lead on a couple of free throws, then after a steal on the inbounds pass, Willette drove inside and banked it home. He was fouled on the play, and made his free throw, giving Bay a 90-85 lead.

The Lions did not fold as Carlson scored twice from inside, although he was blocked once by Logan Hardwick.

Ryan Arndt scored on a driving layup and Hardwick made a free throw, but the Norse had to hang on after Willette missed two free throws.

Finalndia's two attempts at game-tying baskets came up short, including a three at the buzzer by Heinonen, and the Norse escaped wirh their 20th victory of the season.

Fields had a career-high 27 points while Willette added 21. Fields had 21 of his points in the second half and overtime, while Willette had 15 in the second half and OT.

Kobi Barnes had 19 points before rolling his ankle midway through the second half.

For Finlandia, Underwood led the way with 20 points. Carlson finished with 19, Beard added 18, and Heinonen scored 17 points. Jacob Oom added eleven points.

Earlier in the day on Monday, Bay College learned that it would host the regional semifinal game as the region's top seed after winning a coin toss that broke a tie with Dakota County (Minn.) Technical College. So Dakota County will host Gogebic Community College this Saturday, while the Norse earned the bye.

Bay will take on the winner of that game on Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 8:00 ET, in Escanaba, following the Norse-Gogebic women's regional tournament game at 6:00.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos, and listen to post-game comments from Coach Matt Johnson. Also listen to Ryan Robinette's player spotlight interview, and hear a radio replay of Alfonzo Fields' clutch buzzer beating shot.