Lions Roar to Victory in Season Opener!
Men's Basketball opened up their Season in Bemidji, Minnesota facing a talented and well coached Kuyper University. The Lions won the game 83-76, after being down 35-41 at halftime. The Lions got out to a slow start at the beginning of the game, facing an early deficit 8-2. The team stayed composed and battled back. Senior forward Damien Walters Jr. tied the game up at 8 with an offensive rebound layup. The very next possession Walters Jr. connected on a 3 pointer assisted by Sophomore Guard Mason Bates giving the Lions an 11-8 lead. For the next few minutes the Lions maintained their lead until about the last three minutes of the first half. Kuyper found success in transition and finished a fast break layup with 4 seconds left in the first half, giving them the lead 41-35.
The Lions came out in the second half with a ton of energy and hot shooting. Freshman forward Thalit Bayath opened up the half with 2 big 3 pointers. A few minutues later Damien Walters Jr. connected on three, 3 pointers in a row, sending the gym into a frenzy! Senior guard Jonathan Ogugua also connected on a pull-up 3 point shot helping extended the lead! The Lions took a 10 point lead with under 10 minutes after an alley dunk thrown down by Freshman center Jordan Reeves! In the final 4 minutes the Lions slowed the game down, to kill the clock. Freshman Guard Rj Palmer Jr. hit a big pull-up 3, followed by a floater on the next possession to help maintain the lead!
In the second half the Lions shot 58% from 3 and 59% from the field, outscoring Kuyper 48-35! Jonathan Ogugua led the way with 26 points, 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal. Damien Walters Jr. finished with 16 points in 20 minutes, shooting an impressive 6-7 from the field and 4-4 from 3! Thalit Bayath chipped in 13 points, 6 rebounds, while shooting 4-6 from the field and 3-3 from 3 point range. Jordan Reeves had a big double-double scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds, while shooting 6-11 from the field. Freshmen: Rj Palmer, Thalit Bayath, Jordan Reeves, Manny Lankford, Anton Geller, all scored their first points in college!
Men's basketball is now 1-0 on the season their next game is an exhibition matchup vs Dakota State University on November 7th!
