Vikings win at Kellogg

The Glen Oaks Community College men's basketball team clamped down defensively Saturday at Kellogg, holding one of the league's highest-scoring offenses to more than 20 points below its average for a 71-64 victory. 

Kellogg had been averaging 87 points per game, but the Vikings were comfortable playing a different brand of basketball that produced a 30-30 tie at halftime. GOCC got out to an 8-1 lead before Kellogg erased the deficit completely with just under 12 minutes to play in the first half. 

The Bruins ended up going on a 15-1 run before GOCC's Lavonta Ash got a bucket in the post and Jordan Turner hit a 3-pointer and a free throw to tie the game at 15-15. A pair of triples by Kellogg's Ke'Marion Tucker helped the Bruins pull ahead 24-15. Glen Oaks chipped away at the foul line, Daivion Boleware scored on a pair of layups, Tylan Harris drained a 3-pointer and Turner hit a jumper to tie the game before halftime. 

Tyler Swanwick gave the Vikings some juice with a triple to start the second half, and two Boleware field goals gave GOCC a 37-30 advantage. The Vikings would eventually build an 11-point lead with 12:58 to play. 

Harris hit two 3-pointers midway through the half to deflate the Bruins and give the visitors a 12-point lead. Swanwick connected on another shot from deep to keep the cushion at double-figures, but the Bruins would go on a 10-0 run and tie the game at 58-58 with 4:44 remaining. 

Boleware would hit two free throws and Roach made four to gain a little breathing room. Turner slashed to the hoop for a layup to give Glen Oaks a six-point lead with 1:37 left and Harris made four freebies with under a minute to play to put the game out of reach. 

Harris finished with a team-high 19 points and Boleware recorded 17 points and 17 rebounds. Off the bench, Turner recorded 13 points and Roach had 10. Swanwick was next in line with eight points. 

The Vikings improved to 16-9 overall and 7-3 in the MCCAA Western Conference, which is currently good for second place behind Kalamazoo Valley (21-5, 10-0). Kellogg is now 17-5 overall and 4-5 in league play. 

Glen Oaks hosts Southern Michigan on Saturday, Feb. 24 before closing out the regular season at Kalamazoo Valley on Tuesday, Feb. 27.