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Norse score 61 in first half, down Lions, 97-78

ESCANABA — Matt Wagner just needed some confidence.

After having what he described as a couple of “bad games” early in the season, Bay College’s freshman guard went home to Marinette for Christmas break and started going to open gyms to get his confidence back.

It appears to have worked.

Wagner scored a season-high 32 points – including five 3-pointers in the first six and a half minutes – to lead the Norse to a 97-78 victory over Finlandia University Saturday at Bay College.

“Over (Christmas) break, I went home and started playing. I was going to all the open gyms and I really got my confidence back,” Wagner explained. “When I first got here, I had a couple bad games and kind of lost some confidence, but now I got my confidence and swagger back. It just helps out so much. Every time I catch the ball, I’m just looking to shoot it and I’m like, ‘I’m going to make it every single time.'”

This was not the first time Wagner has done this recently. On Jan. 15, he opened an 83-58 victory against Gogebic Community College with five triples in the first five minutes. He was also named tournament MVP of the Quality Inn & Suites New Year’s Tournament Jan. 3-4.

When Norse coach Matt Johnson recruited him, he knew he was getting a shooter.

“I knew he could shoot it well, there’s no question about it,” Johnson said. “He’s the second leading scorer in Marinette High School history and he was known as a 3-pointer shooter, for sure. It doesn’t surprise me a whole lot that he’s been shooting it as well as he is, but he’s been really good for us the last month. He’s played really good basketball.”

Wagner’s latest outburst put Bay up 30-8 with 13:35 still left to play in the first half. That was more than enough for the Norse, who built their lead as big as 59-26 with three minutes left in the half before leading 61-39 at halftime.

“Anytime we play we want to start off like that,” Johnson said. “That’s what you’re hoping to do. It doesn’t always happen quite like that, but I thought we moved the ball really, really well. We looked inside-out, we made the extra pass and I thought we did some great stuff offensively. It gave us the opportunity to have open catch and shoot opportunities, and when Matt Wagner is open and his feet are set, it’s a pretty good bet that it’s going to go in. I thought we just did some good stuff to get the right guys some good shots at the right times. They fell, too. That helps.”

The winless Lions (0-18) pulled within 17 a couple times in the second half, but it was not near enough to overcome their insurmountable deficit.

“We gave up 61 in the first half and 36 in the second half. Obviously, they were playing their subs some in the second half, but there was a little pep in our step and a little fire there,” Lions coach Sam Casey said. “For us, it’s bit by bit … next play, next play, next play. I think every coach preaches that, but it’s hard – especially with today’s generation where they watch the NBA and college basketball and they don’t understand the grind. That’s always going to be what it is. That’s what it is for us, and that’s what it should be. We’re going to keep grinding, grinding, and getting better.”

Wagner finished with six triples and four steals with his 32 points to lead the Norse (15-7). Christian Alexander finished with a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds, while Ryan Robinette chipped in 17 points, nine assists and five rebounds. Chris Dobessi added 12 points, eight boards and three assists.

Joe Heinonen led the Lions with 15 points and four rebounds. Kaleb Kirksey added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Jacob Oom chipped in 11 points, seven boards and four assists.

The Norse shot 47% from the field, committed 10 turnovers and held a commanding 48-29 rebounding advantage. The Lions shot 41% and had 11 miscues.

These two teams meet again Wednesday at Finlandia.

“We want to play like we did in the second half to start the game. I think it’s going to be a good matchup,” Casey said. “For our young team, it’s going to be a good test for us. Can we make the little adjustments, and can we care a little bit more about the little things that make the difference? It’s good for us to play them again right away.”

Finlandia     39   39   –   78

Bay College 61   36   –   97

Finlandia – Oom 11, Kirksey 12, Underwood 3, Hendrickson 7, Heinonen 15, Shumate 10, Johnston 9, Moultrie 11. FT: 8-16; F: 21; Fouled out: Underwood. Technical foul: Underwood. 3-point field goals: Oom 3, Johnston 3, Heinonen 3, Kirksey 2, Shumate 2, Underwood 1, Hendrickson 1, Moultrie 1.

Bay College – Dobessi 12, Wagner 32, Robinette 17, Alexander 19, Fleming 4, Harris 3, Masuga 5, Contreras 3, Yohe 2. FT: 19-27; F: 18; Fouled out: Masuga. 3-point field goals: Wagner 6, Robinette 2, Harris 1, Contreras 1.

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