PAINESVILLE, Ohio - The Lake Erie men's basketball team used a relentless defensive effort in a 69-49 win over Central State on Saturday (Feb. 6) afternoon at the Jerome T. Osborne Family Athletic & Wellness Center. The Storm is now 6-3 at home this season and has won three straight at the Osborne Center.
 
The Storm (8-15) limited the Marauders (17-5) to just 28 percent (16-for-57) shooting from the field, including a 1-for-17 mark from three-point range. Central State entered the game averaging 77 points per game on 47 percent shooting.
 
Lake Erie also forced 20 turnovers in the game, leading to 21 points and 12 fast-break points.
 
The Marauders stayed in the game for much of the first half, but Lake Erie closed the half with a 16-8 run to take a 29-20 lead into halftime. The Storm took over the game in the second half, running its lead to as many as 22 with two minutes left.
 
Lake Erie shot 57 percent (17-for-30) in the second half to build that lead, getting many shots close to the basket on the way to 28 second-chance points in the second half. The most exciting of those came with four minutes left when forward Darnell Campbell (Cleveland, Ohio/Collinwood) threw down a monstrous, two-handed alley-oop dunk from forward Matt Grendel (Independence, Ohio/Independence).
 
Campbell notched his fourth double-double of the season with 13 points and a season-high 14 rebounds. It was one short of a career-best for the senior. Campbell also blocked three shots.
 
Ethan Bradshaw (Cincinnati, Ohio/Harmony Prep) paced the Storm, scoring 17 of his game-high 25 points in the first half. He also kicked in 10-of-13 free throws, hit three treys and added a game-high six helpers.
 
Freshman center Garrick Sims (Barberton, Ohio/Barberton) added 12 points, while sophomore guard Matt Grendel pulled down six rebounds and made a career-high four steals.
 
The Storm's game against No. 6 Indiana (Pa.) originally scheduled for Monday (Feb. 8) has been postponed and rescheduled for Monday, Feb. 22. The Crimson Hawks' Saturday game was moved to Sunday (Feb. 7) due to inclement weather and now will not have to play on back-to-back days.
 
Thus, Lake Erie's next outing is next Saturday (Feb. 13) against Urbana at home. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.