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EMPTY TRIP: Norse Battle; Fall To Panthers Again
 Click the thumbnails to see photos and videos, and to hear post-game comments from sophomore Justin Nelson. Also click the AUDIO button to hear Michael Foust's player spotlight interview. LAKE WORTH, Fla.---The Bay College Norse men's basketball team had a second half lead for a second straight game against the Palm Beach State College Panthers Saturday night in Florida, but ended up with a second straight loss, this time, 88-81.  "We're not tough enough to win games like this against teams like this," Norse Coach Matt Johnson said. "The kids played hard. I'm not bashing them in the slightest. But we've got to get better. These are two games we could have won. I think maybe our practices need to be harder and need be tougher so that we're ready for games like this." "That's on us as a coaching staff. We did some good things. But we didn't do enough win either of these games. We could have won by playing like this against some of our other opponents. But this is a national tournament caliber team." For his part, Nelson said the team tried hard despite the final outcome. "We worked our butts off," Nelson said. "You know, it's just a lot of little things that add up. That's what kills us in the end. Overall, I thought we fought hard as a group. I've got to give it to all of my teammates. We battled."  The Norse still trailed, 53-45, four minutes into the second half, and eventually caight fire behind Lamar Grayson, Nelson, and Colin Hudson. The three combined to score 13 points, and after Nelson got his second baby hook basket in as many posessions, the Norse had finished off a 19-10 run to grab what would be their last lead of the game at 64-63. Trailing by nine at 84-75, the Norse had a highlight when Nelson blocked a dunk attempt and Hudson drained a triple. That cut it to 84-78, but the Norse could get no closer. The Panthers had a pair of four-point plays in the game with made triples and foul shots. Ryan Moore did it in the first half, and then Caleb Muller did it in the second half. The Panthers were almost perfect from the free throw line, making 16 of their 17 foul shots. Andrews, who won the Friday's game with an "and-one dunk", was hot again Saturday, scoring a game-high 25 points for Palm Beach. Issac had 19 points, including a pair of triples and ten total points in the second half. Jaiden Wynn scored 17 points, with 11 coming in the second half. And Eduardo Diaz played a strong game at point guard, chipping in eight points.  "They can shoot," Nelson said. "T'll say that. They can shoot the ball really well. It's just too bad that we couldn't close it out." Bay College (9-4) had five players score in double figures, which usually equals a victory. Colin Hudson had 17, Nelson and Grayson both had 16, Joc Overstreet scored 13 points, and Flaniken contributed ten points. In the end, those points were not enough. And even though the Norse go home empty-handed without a win for the Florida trip, Nelson says this trip was a highlight of his career. "The experience was phenominal," Nelson said. "I'll never forget it. These are friends not like anybody else. We all have the same mindset. We all want to win. We'll stick together and do whatever it takes. They're friends for life." It's back to reality for the Norse, as they leave the setting of sunny skies, sunbathing on the beach, and swimming and fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. They'll fly back to winter Sunday evening and should arrive back on the Escanaba campus at around 4 a.m. Monday. And then, it's one last non-conference game, Wednesday night in Ironwood, against the Gogebic Community College Samsons. Then next Saturday, it's the Norse first-ever MCCAA conference game, also on the road, agaisnt Grand Rapids Community College.  |
