PAINESVILLE, OHIO -- The Lake Erie men's basketball team hosted their first G-MAC home game on Saturday, taking on the Malone Pioneers in a hard-fought battle. Despite a strong start, the Storm fell short in the closing minutes, losing 91-86. Lake Erie now holds a 7-3 overall record but remains winless in conference play at 0-2.

Game Recap

The Storm came out firing, jumping to an 11-point lead in the first five minutes of action. Their signature defensive pressure held Malone to just seven points early on, while Lake Erie's hot shooting (3-of-5 from beyond the arc) seemed to set the tone for a dominant performance.

However, momentum quickly shifted. After surging to a 23-11 advantage, Lake Erie watched their lead evaporate as Malone rattled off 10 unanswered points. By the 6:07 mark, the Pioneers took their first lead at 31-30, and the Storm entered halftime trailing 46-42 despite their early dominance.

The second half was a thrilling back-and-forth battle, featuring 10 lead changes and seven ties. Neither team led by more than two possessions at any point. With five minutes remaining, the score was deadlocked at 75. After trading baskets, Caleb Piks delivered a clutch fast-break three-pointer to give Lake Erie an 82-81 lead with 2:58 remaining. Unfortunately for the Storm, this would be their final advantage of the night. Malone responded with back-to-back scores to pull ahead, ultimately securing the hard-fought 91-86 victory.

Analysis

Sophomore standout Cameron Johnson was sensational for the Storm, pouring in a career-high 30 points on just 16 shots in an incredibly efficient performance. At 6'6 and 205 pounds, Johnson's combination of size and skill posed a matchup problem that Lake Erie exploited all night. He knocked down six of his eight three-point attempts, a performance that would typically set the Storm up for a win.

Lake Erie left crucial points at the free throw line, converting just 17 of their 25 attempts (68%). In a tight game with such slim margins, those missed opportunities loomed large. Had the Storm connected on even a few more of those chances, the outcome might have been different.

Foul trouble played a significant role in shaping the game for both teams. In the first half, Cameron Johnson logged just six minutes despite scoring 10 points, as he picked up two quick fouls. If not for his early exit, Lake Erie might have capitalized on their hot start and extended their lead even further. For Malone, Tre Baumgardner III was a standout player in the first half, scoring 12 points. However, with two fouls by halftime and a third early in the second half, his impact was severely limited, as he played sparingly and added just two points after the break.

Lake Erie continues to display impressive team defense, using their length, hustle, and disciplined coaching to disrupt opponents. However, their point-of-attack defense remains a weakness, as quicker, more physical opponents have consistently exposed them in the half-court. In the second half, Malone's 6'7 forward Ryan Bartley proved unstoppable, pouring in 24 points despite Lake Erie's best efforts to slow him down. As G-MAC play continues, the Storm will need to find better ways to contain opponents' primary scorers to remain competitive against athletic conference teams.

The Storm shot an amazing 13/26 from downtown tonight, a mark that should have certainly yielded a victory. Along with Cameron Johnson's aforementioned 6/8 performance, Jake Leibacher went 2/4 on his tries, and Caleb Piks was 2/3 himself from deep. 

STORM LEADERS THROUGH 10 GAMES:

Points: Cameron Johnson (14.6), Derrick Anderson (13.9), Joshua Dames (8.5), Caleb Piks (7.7), and Micah Bays (7.2)

Rebounds: Todd Simons (4.4), Cameron Johnson (4.0), Joshua Dames (4.0), Jake Leibacher (3.9), and Kai Bloom (3.0)

Assists: Derrick Anderson (4.3), Kai Bloom (2.2), Todd Simons (1.9), Caleb Piks (1.7), and Aidan Filippini (1.7)

Steals: Kai Bloom (1.9), Joshua Dames (1.7), Derrick Anderson (1.6), Jake Leibacher (1.1), and Micah Bays (1.0)

Blocks: Cameron Johnson (.9), Jake Leibacher (.4), Solomon Kuol (.2), Todd Simons (.2), and Griffin Turay (.2)

The Matchup

Following the loss on Saturday, Lake Erie moves to 12-14 all-time versus Malone. Last season, the Storm won both matchups, however, it's been the Pioneers, especially in the last 10 seasons, who have typically came out on top. 

Looking Ahead

Next up for the Lake Erie Storm is a critical G-MAC matchup against Ashland on Monday, December 16th at 7:30 p.m. in the Jerome T. Osborne Center. Ashland, a perennial contender in the conference, enters the game at 5-3. In their last five contests, they've faced a mix of challenges, including a narrow 75-74 loss to #13 Ferris State and a statement loss to Kentucky Wesleyan (76-58), alongside dominant wins over Kent State-Tuscarawas (82-57), Northwood (61-56), and Tiffin (79-61).

Ashland is led by 6'7 forward Maceo Williams, a leading candidate for G-MAC Player of the Year. Williams is averaging 23.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting a blistering 70.6% from the field—a mark that would set a new program record for the Eagles. Williams was a second-team All G-MAC selection last season and ranked sixth in D-II in field goal percentage (65.8%). Slowing him down will be a key challenge for the Storm.

The Eagles also feature 6'5 sharpshooter Cooper Davis, who averages 10.5 points per game and leads the team with 5.5 three-point attempts per contest, and 6'0 guard Jaron Crews, who serves as their primary ball-handler, contributing 10.1 points per game alongside the team's highest assist total.