Grand Rapids, Mich. -- The Raiders lost their first true home game all season to the Muskegon Jayhawks on Friday night by a final of 76-74. The loss also snapped a four game win streak and put the Raiders into a first place tie now with Lansing Community College, a team they will be playing Wednesday the 13th at their place. The Raiders are now 15-6 overall and 8-2 in conference play. The Jayhawks, who avenged an 88-68 loss to the Raiders last month, improve to 11-10 and stay in contention for a post season berth with a 6-6 conference record.
The Jayhawks led by as many as ten points in the first half, but the Raiders despite just 35% shooting rallied back for just a one point deficit at the half 37-36. Travez Nyx (12 points-8 points-5 assists) and Kylan Shipp (game high 24 points-8 rebounds) combined for 21 points including 15 from behind the arc.
William Otole (Grand Rapids, MI) and
Ike Kanu (Grand Rapids, MI) led a well balanced Raider offense with eight points a piece.
The game would come down to the final possession after the Raiders came all the way back from a 12 point deficit with 15 minutes left in the game. Freshman point guard
Camren Spicer (Grand Rapids, MI), filling the starting spot of
David Hearns (Hazel Park, MI) who was not dressed, hit a game tying three with 1:05 remaining making it 74 all. After an offensive foul gave the ball back to the Raiders with 40 seconds left, sophomore
Sammie Ryans (Kentwood, MI) missed a shot and it was rebounded by the Jayhawks Jacarius Scott (14 points-7 rebounds). Scott raced down the court and missed the layup but teammate Josh Smith (7 points-11 rebounds-5 blocks) was there to tap it in giving his team a 76-74 lead with 19 seconds left.
The Raiders called timeout and proceeded to miss two potential game tying shots. The first one was blocked out of bounds with nine seconds to go and the final attempt, just as time expired, rolled off the rim in the hands of the Jayhawks who secured the upset and kept them in the playoff hunt.
GRCC dominated the glass all night long totaling 66 rebounds to 51 for the Jayhawks. The Raiders however had more offensive rebounds than field goals made, 31-30. In all, each team made 30 field goals with the Raiders attempting a season high 96 shots to only 72 for MCC. The 31% clip from the field was the lowest for the Raiders all season. The Raiders are now 2-6 on the season when shooting less than 40% from the field and a perfect 14-0 when shooting over 40%.
Kanu finished with the only double double of the night with 13 points and 17 rebounds. Otole had a team high 19 points with five three pointers made. Ryans finished with 18 points and
Diego Robinson (Lansing, MI) 17 rebounds. Spicer had 9 points, 7 rebounds and a game high 6 assists.
The Raiders will try to stay in the race for the title with a trip to Kalamazoo Valley CC on Monday night. The Cougars are just 6-17 on the year and are on the outside of the in playoff picture with a 4-7 conference record. This will be the first time the team's have faced all season. They will play again in Grand Rapids in the conference finale on February 27th.
