Mt. Pleasant, Mich. – The conference season got off to a great start for the Raider Men's basketball team as they upended a tough Mid-Michigan College team in front of their home fans, 84-71. The win improves the Raiders to 8-4 overall, while the Lakers fall to 5-5.
The Raiders got off to a hot start leading 25-10 just nine minutes into the game. The Lakers got to within single digits twice, but a three pointer by sophomore guard, Sammie Ryans (East Kentwood '15), just before halftime made it a 45-33 ball game. The Raider D also held the Lakers Jaylen Rutherford (who scored 44 points in a game earlier this season) to zero points in the half. Rutherford, who averaged 22.4 points a game (11th in the nation) totaled just 10 points for the entire game.
The second half was much closer than the first, but every time the Lakers made a run, the Raiders responded with a bucket of their own. Kareem Alamm's basket with six minutes to go made it a 70-62 ball game, but the Raiders responded with a 10-2 run, including a big three before the shot clock expired by freshman point guard, Cam Spicer (East Kentwood '16), and then another three by Ryans (his fourth of the game) with 2:42 left in the game.
Ryans ended up leading five Raiders who scored in double digits with 20 points, including 12 from behind the arc. Sophomore forward, Ike Kanu (Forest Hills Central '15), did what he does best (defending and grabbing boards) ended up with another double-double, 15 points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard, Willie Otole (Tri-Unity Christian '16), who had Rutherford on lock down for most of the game had his share offensively as well. Otole had four threes of his own and finished with 17 points, three steals and a game high six assists.
The Raiders, winners of three in a row, will look to stay unbeaten in the conference as they travel to Jackson College on Saturday to take on the Jets. The Jets are just 2-8 overall, but won their conference opener 95-78 to Muskegon Community College Thursday night.
