Men's basketball season ends at Lansing

The Glen Oaks Community College men's basketball team ran into a two-headed monster Tuesday at Lansing in the NJCAA Great Lakes District C quarterfinals as Zane Kemp and Zander Woodruff combined for 67 points in a 95-87 win over the Vikings. 

It was GOCC that controlled the game early on as Head Coach Mike Elliott's squad rushed out to a 15-6 lead. But it wasn't long before Kemp started heating up as he scored 19 of his game-high 36 points in the first half. Lansing was able to get back within a possession near the midway point of the opening half before Nate Keil drained a 3-pointer to give the Vikings a 26-20 advantage. Kemp answered with a triple and a layup off a GOCC turnover to cut the Glen Oaks lead to one. 

Darrius Roach, who paced the Vikings with 23 points, shot down the lane on the next trip down the floor for a lay-in and Taurus Baugh completed a three-point play after battling for his own miss with a putback and a free throw to give the visitors a 31-25 lead. But Glen Oaks could not contain Kemp, who continued to create shot opportunities and keep Lansing within striking distance. A fast-break dunk by Kemp got the Stars within two points with under seven minutes to play in the first half.

A pair of slashing drives by Roach helped keep GOCC out front, but Lansing was able to force several turnovers that turned the heat up. A 3-pointer in transition by Woodruff, the nation's leading scorer in Division II, a jumper by Donye Thomas and two free throws from Woodruff gave LCC the lead at 38-37 with 4:28 before intermission. Roach regained the lead for the Vikings after grabbing a loose ball under the basket for an easy two points, but Kemp answered with a layup on the other end and Woodruff hit a turnaround jumper in the lane for a 42-39 advantage.  

Will Jamison connected on a 3-pointer from the parking lot to tie things up, but Lansing would score the final two buckets for a 46-42 halftime lead. Unfortunately for the Vikings, Lansing wouldn't relinquish control again. 

After remaining close throughout the first nine minutes of the second half, the Stars started to get separation as they went on a 10-4 run for a 75-65 lead. Woodruff put Lansing up by double-figures with a layup for two of his 31 points. Lansing would eventually lead by as many as 13 as the Vikings began to run out of steam down the stretch. 

Both Aaron Humphrey Jr. and Amauri Moore had 18 points for GOCC, Phillips registered 11, and Keil, Baugh and Akin Smith each had five. Humphrey Jr. and Phillips grabbed seven rebounds apiece. 

Glen Oaks wrapped up the season with a 15-14 overall record. Lansing improved to 18-12 and will take on Mid-Michigan Thursday in the semifinals.