ST. PAUL, Minn. – A big first half lead was all No. 22 Bay College mens’ basketball needed to take an 86-80 victory over the Lake Region State Royals (6-4) at Hamline University on Saturday evening.

The Norse (4-2) were able to frustrate the Royal defense throughout the first half. Lake Region had multiple scoring droughts and shot 29.3% in the first half and went 2-of-15 from 3-point range while going 3-of-8 from the free-throw line.

The Royals led 6-4 after two minutes of play when Bay went on their first run. It would be the last time Lake Region led in the game as an 11-point run started to open up a gap. Bay outscored its opponents 9-2 over a couple minute stretch in the middle of the half, and then opened up a 14-point lead heading into the break.

The Norse shot 44.4% in the first half and got 12 points and eight rebounds from Joe Ofori, which included a pair of rim-rocking dunks that rallied the Norse bench.

The Norse started the second half with more of the same and would extend their lead to as many as 17 points in the first five minutes.

Leading 63-47 with just under 14 minutes to play, the Norse would hit a scoring drought. The Royals made a concerted effort to attack the rim in the second half, which led to an 11-2 run by the Royals, cutting the lead to single-digits.

Bay was able to hold a lead of seven to 11 points from that point, right up until under the one-minute mark. With the Norse holding an 84-75 lead, the Royals made one last ditch effort to gain control.

A dunk by Ginuwine Tropnas, followed by a turnover by the Norse, set up Ron Lee hitting a three-point from deep to bring the score to 84-80 in favor of the Norse with 18 seconds left. It would then catch a break as Bay split a pair of free throws on the ensuing possession, keeping it a two-score game.

The Royals would miss on their final look with just under ten seconds left, and though they did send Bay to the line one more time, the time had run out on their comeback effort, as they fell to the Norse by a six-point deficit.

Ofori finished with a double-double, and hit nine of 11 from the free throw line as he totaled 22 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and a block. Nic Williams also had 22 points and picked up six rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Josh Williams ended with ten points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, a block, and took two big charges on defense.

Lee hit three three-pointers for the Royals and ended with 17 points. Tropnas finished his night with 14 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks while Remy Davis Warrington added 12 points. Bronson Chambers had ten points.

Bay is on the road at 8 p.m. Tuesday as it meets up with Gogebic Community College. The Norse won the first matchup in Escanaba by a final score of 86-79.