END OF THE LINE: Norse Eliminated In Regionals

ESCANABA---The Bay College men's basketball team had its season come to an end on Wednesday, falling to the 15th-ranked Dakota County Tech (Minn.) Blue Knights, 90-71, in Escanaba. The Blue Knights went on a 23-4 run in the second half to turn a one-point game into a runaway victory and a spot in the regional championship game.

For Bay College, it was a stinging loss, after winning a coin toss to earn the right to host this game after splitting two regular season meetings with the Knights.

And in Wednesday's game, the Norse got off to a great start with a Christian Alexander dunk, Tyler Willette basket and foul, and Ryan Robinette triple. The Norse jumped to a 13-3 lead, and led for almost all of the first half. Dakota County, however, took a 44-41 halftime lead on a buzzer-beating triple by Termain Daniels.

The Knights opened the second half with a 10-2 run to go ahead, 54-43, in a rare exchange of slam dunks. Cody Sticha slammed one home for Dakota County, then Alexander drove to the hoop and got his second dunk of the game. He was fouled on the play as well, but was given a technical foul for hanging on the rim.

So, the Knights got two free throws, and Alexander got one foul shot.

The Norse, trailing by eleven, had one last run in them, led by Willette. He scored three baskets in a row, with the last being a driving layup that brought the Norse to within one point at 61-60 midway through the second half. But DCTC had the answer.

The 23-4 run was highlighted by back-to-backdeep triples by Jerimiah Coddon, with a man in his face both times.

And moments later, Coddon tried another long shot and was fouled, and went to the free throw line and made two of his three shots.

DCTC, ranked in the national polls all season while averaging 90 points per game, reached that mark again, as six players scored in double figures. Coddon led with 18 points (and nine rebounds), with Amitri Collins-Westlund adding 16 points off the bench. The Blue Knights made 16 three pointers in the game.

Dakota County (23-5) hosts United Tribes Tech (ND) in Sunday's regional final.

Bay College finished its season 20-10, with eight of those losses coming to teams who were ranked in the final NJCAA regular season poll. The Norse sophomore class finished its two years with a 41-19 record (plus a 42nd win by forfeit last season).

The Norse were led by Willette's 19 points. Alfonzo Fields added 18 points, including three triples. Ryan Robinette chipped in 13 points and Alexander ended up with 11.

Fields and Alexander both had eight rebounds to lead the Norse.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and videos, and listen to Johnson's post-game comments and the player spotlight interview with Luke Mattson.