PETOSKEY, MI – The Bay College Men’s Basketball Team (12-4, 1-1 MCCAA) opened up a lead late in the game against the North Central Michigan Timberwolves (1-13, 0-2 MCCAA) and ended up with a 64-40 victory on the road.

The Norse started the game on a 10-2 run, but the Timberwolves responded with a 13-0 stretch in which they took the lead for the first time of the night. Bay would not reclaim the lead until just over two minutes left in the half, and took a slim 24-19 lead into the locker room at intermission.

Bay led by as many as 13 in the second half before NCMC made another charge. A 10-2 run by the Timberwolves turned it into a 5-point game midway through the second half. Bay’s defense stepped up at that point and North Central would score just seven points in the last nine plus minutes, allowing the Norse to open up a comfortable lead down the stretch. The 23-point lead is the first conference win for Bay of the season.

Bay shot the ball well overall, hitting 46.6% of their shots. The Timberwolves saw their shooting percentage dip below 30% in the second half and were outrebounded 42-31 in the game.

Ziad Abouali (FR, Cairo, Egypt) led the Norse with ten points, four rebounds, and three assists. Kyle Hustrulid (Fr, Edina, MN) also had ten points. Savion Johnson (SO, Milwaukee, WI) grabbed eight rebounds and four assists.

Ryan Mateleski (FR, Gaylord, MI) led all scorers with 11 points. Logan McCauley (SO, Wolverine, MI) had eight points.

The Norse are on the road Saturday for a conference matchup with Muskegon Community College. That game is scheduled to tip at 3 pm.