Click the AUDIO buttons to hear post-game comments from Player of the Game Nic Williams, and from Norse Head Coach Matt Johnson.

ESCANABA---The Bay College Norse men's basketball team went on a 23-4 run midway through the first half to break open a close game, and the Norse rolled to a 99-66 win over the Kirtland Community College Firebirds Wednesday in Escanaba.

The Norse led, 12-8, at the 13:00 media timeout, before Nic Williams scored eleven of his team's next 23 points to key the rally.

A pair of Tre Sanigar triples helped to expand that lead, and it was 55-28 at halftime. Five Bay players scored in double figures for the Norse, and ten players scored all together. The Norse made 15 triples in the game, and the Bay defense forced 30 Kirtland turnovers.

“We did what we set out to do,” Norse Coach Matt Johnson said. “We didn't worry about the scoreboard. Outside of a little stretch where I thought we got complacent, but for the most part, we just worried about being really good. We played with great energy, and I thought we probably executed our press as good as any point we have this year.'

Ryan Sweeney led the way with 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor. Nic Williams had 19 points (7-of-11), and Sanigar added three triples and 12 points.

Kai'Ree Gadson chipped in eleven points, and Joe Ofori scored ten points. The Norse shot 48-percent from the floor.

Kirtland (4-8 overall, 3-3 MCCAA) was led by Wesley Saint-Juste, who nailed six triples and scored 22 points. Jayvion Sims added 15 points off the bench.

The win was Bay's fifth in a row after a conference-opening loss to Montcalm College. The Norse remained one game behind first place Mid-Michigan, after the Lakers handled Muskegon Community College Wednesday night, 109-77.

The Norse (16-4 overall, 5-1 MCCAA) and Lakers (17-3 overall, 6-0 MCCAA) will face each other in a Top-20 battle Saturday afternoon in Mt. Pleasant. Bay is ranked 18th in the latest NJCAA-II national poll, and Mid Michigan is ranked 17th.

“Hopefully, this (win) gives us some confidence and sets us in the right direction, but we've got to be better than this on Saturday,” Johnson said. “We've got to take better care of the ball. We turned it over too much (13 times, our goal was ten). We'll have to rebound better. Mid-Michigan plays really, really, really, hard. If we don't do those little things consistently for 40 minutes, it's going to be a struggle, especially on the road.”

Tip-off at the Maury Courts in Mt. Pleasant is set for 3:00 Saturday. It will be broadcast live on Maverick 106.3 FM, and on-line at www.baynorse,com.