Photo by Kyle Niermann

(FINDLAY, Ohio) – A close game fell just out of reach for Lake Erie as it fell to Findlay 75-64 on the road Thursday evening. The Storm (9-6, 3-2) and Oilers (8-5, 3-1) battled it out back-and-forth for most of the game before the hosts pulled away down the stretch

Gabe Kynard (Sr., Toledo, Ohio / St. John's) scored a game-high 27 points and Jacob Plantz (Fr., Genoa, Ohio / Genoa) added 10, but Findlay countered with all five starters in double-figures.

The Oilers were balanced with two double-doubles. Aaron Overhiser scored 14 points and pulled down 13 rebounds. Tommy Schmock also added 14 points and tallied 11 assists. Nathan Bruns led Findlay with 15.

As in past games, Lake Erie showed no quit as it trailed by eight with 9:39 to go in the game. That's when Kynard sparked a 12-0 run over the next 5:19 to take a 61-57 lead. Kynard added two more buckets sandwiched between a couple Plantz layups to give the Storm the lead before Kaleb Vaughn (R-Sr., Toledo, Ohio / St. John's) capped the rally with a jumper at the 4:38 mark.

But just as the Oilers went cold during that stretch, so did Lake Erie in the final minutes. Kevin Peterson (So., Cleveland, Ohio / Padua) sank a triple with 3:35 to go to make the score 64-62, but the Storm were held off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

The Storm totaled 19 assists in the game with PJ Jones (So., Grove City, Ohio / Grove City) leading the team with six. Harrison Riggs (Jr., Toledo, Ohio / St. John's) added five more.

Rebounds hurt Lake Erie as Findlay controlled the boards by a 45-27 margin. Plantz pulled down six for the Storm to lead the team.

Lake Erie will resume action this Saturday as it travels west once again to take on Hillsdale. Tip-off with the Chargers is set for 3 p.m.