(PAINESVILLE, Ohio) - The Lake Erie men's basketball team lost in a thriller on Saturday afternoon to the Cedarville Yellow Jackets 71-80 in overtime in the Osborne Center in Painesville. The Storm fall to 0-4 on the season and in conference play. The Yellow Jackets improve to 4-2 in G-MAC play. 

Lake Erie saw its biggest lead of three points with 6:50 left to play in the first half. That lead was quickly erased as both teams went into the halftime break 33-28. At the conclusion of the first half, both teams shot equally from the field as they converted just over 34 percent. The Storm and Yellow Jackets struggled behind the arc early. Cedarville converted 4-17 attempts while the Storm shot 3-17 from three. 

The Storm would not go away without a fight as they went on an eight-point scoring run just under the eight-minute mark of the second half. With five minutes left to play Lake Erie cut the lead down to 54-58. The two teams would go on to trade consecutive baskets when a foul with just under three minutes sent Jeramie Burge to the line for a chance to cut the lead down to two. 

After converting at the free-throw line the Cedarville lead was 58-60. A costly foul by the Storm allowed Cedarville to cash in on two free throws. Jackson Burdyshaw and Jacob Plantz converted on back to back three-pointers as the momentum shifted towards Lake Erie in the closing minutes. At the end of regulation, the score was locked at 66-66.

The overtime period was too much for Lake Erie as the team only scored five points compared to Cedarville's 14. 

Five players scored in double figures for the Storm, with freshman forward Jonny Manning contributing a team-high 14 points and 10 rebounds. Plantz's 10 points, 10 rebound day is his second consecutive double-double of the year. Burge and Burdyshaw combined to score 26 bench points for Lake Erie. 

This is the third consecutive overtime game between the two teams as both games went into overtime last season. It will be a short turn around as Cedarville and the Storm battle it out once again on Monday, Jan. 25 in Cedarville. Tip-off is set for 8:00 pm.