This story was written by Bay College SID Mike Pankow. Click the thumbnails to see RRN's photos and videos, and to hear psot-game comments from Coach Mike Cretens. Also click to hear the Kaine Fort player spotlight interview.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – The #16 Bay College Norse Men's Basketball Team (11-3) could nine-game win streak as they lost on a last second shot to Palm Beach State College Panthers (10-7) by a final score of 75-73.
 

The game lived up to its billing as a tightly contested battle, as neither team was able to grab control.  The Panthers had an early advantage when Syris Williams (SO, Pueblo, CO) hit a three to make it 13-10 in favor of Palm Beach State.  It capped off an impressive run for Williams, as he put up nine points in the opening minutes. 
 

Bay's D'Marco Chelley (FR, St. Paul, MN) sparked an offensive run as he rattled off seven straight points for the Norse, capped off by a three-pointer of his own, giving the road team a 20-17 lead.
 

The back-and-forth continued throughout the first half, and Bay held a slim 39-38 lead at intermission.
 

Williams was hot to start the latter half for the home team, again putting up nine points in the first few minutes.  Second chance opportunities for the Panthers played a big role as the second half started to roll on.  Palm Beach State controlled the offensive glass, allowing them to hold and fend off any Norse run. 
 

The Norse found themselves trailing for the majority of the second half.  With time winding down Bay mounted a rally. Mykel Lyndsey (SO, Chicago, IL) found Ryan Sweeney (SO, Green Bay, WI) who hit a three.

After the Panthers answered with a three on their end, Sweeney fought for a rebound and put back.  Joe Ofori (SO, Shakopee, MN), who left the game in the first half due to an injury, hit a pair of free throws on the following possession, and Josh Williams (SO, Connorsville, IN) weaved through the lane to lay in a basket to make the score 69-64, capping off an 11-3 Bay run and giving the Norse the lead with just over four minutes to play.
 

The Panthers reclaimed the lead, but missed an opportunity to extend as they missed the front end of bonus free throws with just over two minutes to play.  That allowed Josh Williams to finish at the rim, giving Bay the lead 71-70.
 

After missing a crucial free throw again, another front end of a one-and-one, Palm Beach State got a clutch three-pointer from Syris Williams, and held a 73-71 lead with 24.7 seconds remaining.
 

With time winding down, the Norse went on the attack.  After missing on a good look, KaiRee Gadson (SO, Rochester, MN) got the rebound on the right block and fought through contact to put the ball in the hoop, tying it at 73 with just over ten seconds left to play.
 

It gave the Panthers one last chance on their home court to end the game in regulation. 

Williams looked to be the "go-to" guy for Palm Beach State, as he handled it up the floor.  After receiving a ball screen to his left, he looked for his opportunity, but ran into a Bay College double team.  Just when it looked like he would be pinned against the baseline with no outlet, he dropped a pass to Marvin Golf (FR, Lake Worth, FL) who laid in an easy layup.
 

The Norse quickly called timeout, but with 0.1 seconds remaining and the length of the court ahead of them, there was very little they could do.
 

A long, desperation inbounds pass was intercepted by the Panthers leading to a celebration on their homecourt as they escaped with a 75-73 victory.
 

Sweeney and Gadson led the Norse with 14 points apiece.  Ofori finished with 12 points after going ten of 14 from the free throw line.  Chelly also scored 12, ten of those coming in the first half.  Josh Williams finished with 11 points.
 

Syris Williams led all scorers with 24.  He connected on three from behind the arc in the game.  Jovan Palavra (FR, Sarasota, FL) ended his day with 16 points despite finding himself in foul trouble.  Golf's big game-winning shot gave him ten points for the contest.
 

It brings the nonconference portion of the schedule to a close for Bay College.

After a successful first portion of the year, the Norse will look forward to starting their MCCAA Northern Conference schedule on Saturday, January 11. 

They will travel to Montcalm Community College as the new program gets their first taste of conference play.  That game is scheduled to tip at 3 pm.