PAINESVILLE, Ohio -- The Lake Erie men's basketball team hosted Thomas More in a conference clash on Thursday night, emerging victorious with a commanding 87-75 win. The Storm showcased stellar shooting across the board, forced 16 turnovers, and benefited from exceptional bench contributions. With the victory, Lake Erie improves to 11-5 overall and 4-4 in the G-MAC, holding the 6th spot in the conference standings.
Game Recap
Thomas More struck first with an early three-pointer to take a 3-2 lead, but it was the only time the Saints were ahead, as Lake Erie seized control and never looked back. Despite several double-digit leads throughout the first half—peaking at 12 points—the Saints clawed their way back with a 5-0 run to close the half, narrowing the gap to 43-36.
Derrick Anderson was the standout performer in the first period, going a flawless 6/6 from the field for 16 points, including a critical personal 7-0 scoring surge to keep Thomas More at bay.
The Saints opened the second half with renewed energy, quickly cutting the Storm's lead to just two points at 43-41. However, Lake Erie answered emphatically. Over the next 10 minutes, the Storm converted on 11 of 15 possessions to rebuild and extend their lead to 20 points. The pivotal sequence featured three consecutive three-pointers from Micah Bays and Joshua Dames (twice). A deep triple from Gio Moore later extended the margin to a game-high 24 points (79-55) with just over five minutes remaining. Despite a late push from the Saints, who trimmed the deficit to 12, the Storm held strong to secure the win.
Analysis
The disparity in bench production defined much of the game. Thomas More went the first 31 minutes without any scoring from their reserves, while Lake Erie's second unit contributed 25 points during that same stretch. The Storm's bench took over a tight 45-41 game against the Saints' starters and handed the Lake Erie starters a nine-point cushion upon their return. This bench dominance not only provided a buffer but also set the tone for the starters to extend the lead to 20 points. If the reserves hadn't delivered during those pivotal moments, the outcome could have been vastly different.
Lake Erie's offense was at its peak in conference play. In a rematch from six weeks ago, where the Storm tallied seven assists to 10 turnovers, they flipped the script with a dazzling 19 assists to just six turnovers in this outing. Shooting 55% from the field (33-60) also marked their most efficient performance against a G-MAC opponent this season.
The assist-to-turnover ratio continues to be a key indicator of success for the Storm. In their four conference wins, they've maintained a stellar 65/26 ratio (2.5), compared to a dismal 40/49 ratio (0.82) in their four losses. When Lake Erie moves the ball effectively and protects it, the results are consistently positive.
The Storm's dominance in generating extra scoring opportunities also played a critical role. Lake Erie has outpaced opponents by 229 field goal attempts this season, averaging over 14 more shots per game. Against Thomas More, this trend held true as the Storm attempted 60 shots to the Saints' 49. This advantage stems from their ability to force pressure, as evidenced by a conference-leading 307 turnovers forced (far ahead of the second-place team with 265). Additionally, Lake Erie has sent opponents to the free throw line 390 times this season, another G-MAC-high by a significant margin (next closest: 309).
Rebounding was a glaring weakness in this game. The Storm managed just 19 rebounds—a season low—falling well below their season average of 36 per game. Their -10 rebounding margin (19-29) tied their worst of the season (previously against Ferris State: 38-48).
The Matchup
Last season was the first time these schools ever squared off, featuring the Saints prevailing 80-77. After losing earlier this year to Thomas More, Thursday's win makes the all-time record 1-2.
Looking Ahead
The Storm don't get much of a breather, as #20 Hillsdale visits for a 3 p.m. tip-off on Saturday. The Chargers started 5-0, lost to Winona State, then won five straight before falling to Indianapolis. Now, they're on their third five-game winning streak. Will the Storm continue the pattern and snap the Chargers' momentum? They certainly hope so, especially after their heartbreaking loss to Hillsdale just two weeks ago. In that game, Lake Erie trailed by double-digits nearly the entire way before making a dramatic comeback to take the lead with five seconds remaining, only to fall short in a thrilling finish.
Hillsdale is renowned for its stingy defense, leading the conference in points allowed at just 63.1 per game. In contrast, Lake Erie boasts the highest-scoring offense in the G-MAC, averaging 91.3 points per game. This sets the stage for a fascinating matchup of high-powered offense against elite defense. The last time these two teams met, Hillsdale's defense held the Storm to a season-low 72 points, proving its capability to limit Lake Erie's offensive firepower.
Hillsdale is one of the best distance-shooting teams in the G-MAC, making the third-most three-pointers while shooting 37%, the second-best mark in the conference. They also excel at defending the perimeter, allowing the fewest three-pointers to opponents at just 28.2%. Additionally, they take care of the ball, committing a conference-low 9.5 turnovers per game.
Projected Starters:
- Ashton Janowski (6'2", Jr.) – 10.9 PPG, 2.5 APG
- Charles Woodhams (6'3", R-Sr.) – 13.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 2.3 APG. Team leader in points.
- Logan Beaston (6'4", R-Fr.) – 7.2 PPG. Leads team in 3PM (35) and 3PA (90) at 38.9%
- Joe Reuter (6'5", Sr.) – 12.1 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG. Leads the team in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks.
- Eric Radisevic (6'9", R-Sr.) – 8.2 PPG
Key Bench Players:
- Mikey McCollum (6'4", So.) – 12.2 PPG, 1.1 SPG
- CJ Yarian (6'10", R-So.) – 4.9 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.5 APG
