Storm Falls to No.14 Tusculum in Saturday's NKU Classic Consolation

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - The Lake Erie men's basketball team has felt the blows that a rigorous Division II schedule can produce.

One night after falling to the host Norse at the Northern Kentucky John L. Griffin/Lions Club Classic, the Storm dropped a 63-49 decision to 14th-ranked Tusculum on Saturday (Nov. 21) evening at the Bank of Kentucky Center.

Forward Joe Roberts (Cleveland, Ohio/James Ford Rhodes/Alderson-Broaddus) totaled 18 points and nine boards in the loss, taking home the Storm's Most Outstanding Player award in the Classic. He scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed four rebounds in Friday's opener.
 
Guard Antonio Kidd received the Hustle Award for the Storm for the weekend. He piled up 12 points, six boards and three assists in Saturday's defeat. Kidd was also responsible for chasing a couple of standout point guards in Jimmy Boone (Tusculum) and Scott Bibbins (Northern Kentucky).
 
The Storm recovered after the Pioneers jumped out to an 11-2 lead to start the game, eventually bringing the score to 22-17. The Pioneers responded with a 9-2 burst in the final 4:08 of the half to lead 31-19 at the break.
 
Lake Erie was able to force Tusculum into eight turnovers in the first half, but the Pioneers were solid shooting the ball at 46 percent (11-for-24), including 3-of-5 from long-range.
 
The Storm fought through a tough Pioneer defense in the first 20 minutes as Lake Erie shot just 28 percent (8-for-29) from the field in the session.
 
The Pioneers opened up a 38-22 lead before Lake Erie cut the margin in half with an 8-0 break to make it 38-30 with just under 10 minutes to play.
 
Tusculum's Kyle Moore, who had a game-high 32 points, including 22 in the second half, helped lead a Pioneer run that helped them to a 53-36 lead. Moore connected on 6-of-10 three-pointers in the game.
 
The Storm still absorbed the blows getting to within 10 points with just over two minutes to play on the help of Roberts' 13 second-half points.
 
Lake Erie shot 45 percent from the field (23-for-51) and hit on just three three-pointers. Lake Erie carried those shooting struggles to the free-throw stripe as well, hitting on 6-of-14 free throws.
 
The Storm's schedule will not get any easier on Tuesday as Lake Erie will travel to Findlay for a 7:30 tip-off against the No. 4 Oilers at Croy Gymnasium.