ESCANABA — It was a disappointing weekend for the Bay College Norse as they dropped a pair of games in the Quality Inn & Suites Men’s Basketball Classic.

The Norse (7-13) blew a 21-point lead in a 71-68 overtime loss to Kankakee (Ill.) Community College Saturday, then fell to Milwaukee-based Bryant & Statton 77-62 on Sunday.

“We didn’t play very well,” said Bay coach Matt Johnson. “We didn’t shoot particularly well and turned the ball over too much. We allowed them (Bryant & Stratton) to capitalize off our mistakes. I thought we matched up with them well. We just didn’t make enough plays and get enough stops.”

Bay, which trailed 38-28 at halftime, scored the first five points in the second half.

Marinette graduate Matt Wagner drained a 21-foot jump shot from the right wing, and sophomore Chris Dobessi of Detroit sank an eight-foot jumper to bring the Norse within 38-33 to start the second half.

The Bobcats (10-9) responded with seven unanswered points, pushing their lead to 45-33 on a jumper from the lane by Nduka Ogwu.

Bay was within 47-41 following a jumper from the boulevard by freshman Justin Henderson with 13 minutes, 50 seconds left to play.

The Norse were still within 55-47 after Didier Ngambo hit a pair of gifters at 9:47.

Bay, however, was unable to get any closer than 11 points through the remainder of the contest.

“We hit some free throws down the stretch,” said Bobcats’ coach J.T. Gritzmacher. “We want to play at a fast pace. I’ve always said if you can hold you’re opponent under 70 points, you have a pretty good chance of winning.”

This weekend’s games ended a five-game losing streak for the Bobcats, who dropped an 88-84 overtime decision to the Norse March 13.

“We wanted to spread them out a little on offense,” said Gritzmacher. “We talked about getting into the paint, although we have guys who are ready to shoot (from outside). I thought we responded pretty well. This gets us back on track 100 percent.”

A layup by Dobessi gave the Norse a 13-12 lead midway through the first half.

The Bobcats then took the lead for good by going on a 14-6 run and taking a 26-18 lead on a jumper from the lane by Karter Thomas.

Henderson brought the Norse within 26-22 on a putback at 3:09 before the Bobcats answered with a 12-4 run, taking a 38-26 advantage on a jumper from the left corner by Brenden Lankford-Johnson less than a minute before the intermission.

Thomas hit 21 of his 30 points in the first half. Maxwell Glass finished with 14 points, and Ogwu added 13.

“We did a good job on Thomas in the second half, but not a good enough job,” said Johnson. “We didn’t make the plays we needed. The bottom line is they came in here and beat us. They didn’t do anything that surprised us. They just made their shots.”

Dobessi scored 21 for the Norse, who were outrebounded 33-29, committed 16 turnovers and hit 23-of-52 field goals. The Bobcats were 23-of-55 from the floor and had nine miscues.

In Saturday’s contest, cold shooting foiled the Norse as their 21-point lead melted away in the final 12:52 of regulation.

They were 24-of-71 from the field, were outrebounded 48-40 and committed just seven turnovers.

Kankakee was 25-of-73 from the floor and 16-of-20 from the line. The Cavaliers (16-17) had 12 miscues.

A’Kieon Gill drained 11-of-13 gifters and led the Cavaliers with 19 points. Damari Nixon had 15.

“Ibrahima Arthie scored 29 points. Nixon hit 21, and Gill added 15 in Kankakee’s 89-76 triumph over Dakota County Technical College Sunday.

Thomas had 22 points in Bryant & Stratton’s 85-72 conquest of the Blue Knights Saturday.

The Norse travel to Ironwood to face Gogebic Community College Wednesday.

“That’s a big one for regional seeding,” said Johnson. “We need to take care of business and come home with a W.”

Sunday

Bryant & Stratton 38 39 — 77

Bay College 28 34 — 62

Bryant & Stratton — Thomas 30, Lankford-Johnson 4, Lewis 2, Vaughn 9. Haak 5, Robertson 2, Ogwu 13, Glass 14. FT: 22-30; F: 16; Fouled out: Glass; 3-point field goals: Glass 4, Thomas 3, Lankford-Johnson, Haak.

Bay College — Gibbs 4, Dobessi 21, Wagner 9, Johnson 8, Sundling 5, J. Janke 2, Ngambo 5. FT: 12-of-20; F: 20; Fouled out: Ngambo; 3-point field goals: Wagner 2, Dobessi, Johnson.

Saturday

Kankakee 25 35 11 — 71

Bay College 34 26 8 — 68

Kankakee Community College — Shouse 8, Arthie 2, Nixon 15, Gill 19, Hinds 8, Hernandez 3, Mahmoud 5, Stroud 5, Vance 6. FT: 16-20; F: 19; Fouled out: Hinds; 3-point field goals: Shouse 2, Nixon, Hernandez, Stroud.

Bay College — Ndiaye 2, Gibbs 2, Dobessi 23, A. Janke 8, Wagner 20, Johnson 6, Sundling 2, Ngambo 3, Henderson 2. FT: 14-22; F: 19; Fouled out: None; 3-point field goals: Wagner 3, A. Janke 2, Johnson.