Bay Whips Gogebic; Clinches Home Playoff Game

ESCANABA---The Bay College men's basketball team nailed eight three-point baskets in the first six minutes of the game and cruised to a 96-64 win over the Gogebic Community College Samsons Wednesday night in Escanaba.

The win clinched a home playoff spot, and kept the Norse alive for a first round bye.

Before the game, the team's five sophomores, who started the program last year, were honored.

Tyler Willette, Alfonzo Fields, Kobi Barnes, Marcus McKenney, and Darien Nichols were all given placques, as was sophomore student manager Curtis Aiken.

Then, the boys went to work, and left no doubt who would win the game.

Ryan Robinette drained five three-pointb baskets in the first portion of the first half, and Fields nailed three triples of his own.

McKenney added four job shots and Ryan Arndt sank a triple as Bay raced to a 37-13 lead, and led at halftime, 55-32.

Cade Contreras came off the bench to sink three triples in the second half, and Logan Hardwick scored eight points in the paint during the second half.

Bay College ended up with six players scoring in double figures: Robinette with 17, and Fields adding 14. McKenney and Contreras both scored 12 points, while Hardwick and Christian Alexander each scored ten. Hardwick led with eight rebounds.

GCC was led by Mitch Borseth, who scored 21 points, many of them in the later part of the second half. Shamon Shinal added 14 points and Jacon Suzik chipped in ten.

Bay College improved to 18-9 on the season.

The Norse will, at worst, host Gogebic in a playoff game later this month. If GCC upsets Dakota County this Saturday, then the Norse would have the top seed and get a first round bye. If DCTC wins on Saturday, then a coin toss will determine the top seed, and first round regional tournament bye.

The Norse travel to Chicago on Saturday to face Harry S Truman College. Game time is 4:00 ET. It will be broadcast live on Maverick 106.3. The Norse travel to Finlandia University on Monday at 7:30.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos, videos from the game. Also listen to post-game comments from Robinette, Fields, and Coach Matt Johnson. And listen to the halftime interview with Willette and Barnes on Sophomore Night.

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