Lake Erie College Athletics


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Lake Erie College
391 W. Washington St.
Painesville, OH 44077
(440) 375-7000




2003-04 Men's Basketball
News

Three Lake Erie Players Earn All-Conference Honors
Feb. 29 - Three members of the Lake Erie College men's basketball team earned Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference post-season honors. Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's), a freshman, was named the newcomer of the year while also earning honorable mention status. Meanwhile, senior Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) was named to the second team and fellow senior A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) joined Harris as an honorable mention selection.

Harris, who led all AMCC freshmen in nearly every major statistical category, averaged 11.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game while shooting 54.8 percent from the field. He finished the year ranked 10th in conference in scoring and fifth in rebounds per game. Harris was also fifth in field goal percentage and second in blocked shots.

Tibayan, who earned first team honors last season and honorable mention status as a sophomore, was third in the conference in assists per game and ninth in rebounding, dishing out 4.4 assists per game while pulling down 5.3 rebounds. The senior point guard also averaged 7.9 points per game and was in the top-five in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals and field goal percentage for the Storm.

Johnson, who eclipsed the 1,000-point plateau this season and ranks fifth on the school's all-time leading scorer's list with 1,104 points, earned his first all-conference selection. Johnson led Lake Erie (9-17, 5-7) in scoring, averaging 12.7 points per game, and was eighth in conference. He also finished second in the AMCC in free throw percentage, connecting on 87.3 percent of his attempts.

Last Second Shot Falls Short, Storm Season Comes to End
Feb. 25 - A 26-foot three-point field goal attempt by freshman Robert Williams (Richmond Heights, Ohio/Richmond Heights) as time expired fell short, and the Lake Erie College men's basketball team's season ended with a 67-66 first-round Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference playoff loss.

Williams, who totaled a game-high 24 points, scored 16 points in the first half to help give the Storm a 38-36 halftime advantage. However, Frostburg (14-12) controlled for most of the second half, leading by as many as five points with 7:58 remaining. Lake Erie (9-17), triggered by two Williams's three-pointers, took a 61-60 advantage at the 4:46 mark, but Frostburg senior Ryan Grabill countered with a three-point make to put the Bobcats ahead for good.

Junior Nate Malensek (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire) added 13 points for the Storm while senior Mike Rustifo (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Perry) had 10 points and a team-high six rebounds. Grabill and fellow senior Myro Small, who hit 12-of-12 free throw attempts, each finished with 22 points in the win.

Lake Erie outshot the Bobcats from the field, connecting on 48 percent of its shots, but Frostburg hit 23-of-26 free throws compared to the Storm's 10-of-17 mark.

Seniors Shine in Final Regular Season Home Game
Feb. 18 - Seniors Mike Rustifo (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Perry) recorded a season-high 19 points while fellow senior Aaron Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) contributed 15 points as the Lake Erie College men's basketball team defeated Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference rival Pitt-Bradford, 69-68.

Bradford (10-14, 4-7) had an opportunity to win the game, controlling the ball with nine seconds left after Lake Erie senior Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) missed two free throws, but Tibayan stole the ball away from Aaron Kiffer, a junior, to secure the win.

The Storm were knotted with Bradford at halftime, but extended their lead to as much as 10 points with just under six minutes remaining in the game. However, the Panthers finished the game on a 13-4 run.

Tibayan finished with eight points and seven assists in the win while freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) added eight points and eight rebounds. Matt Rowles led Bradford with a game-high 21 points. The junior also totaled nine rebounds and seven assists.

Lake Erie (9-16, 5-7) will now wait for the rest of AMCC action to conclude on Saturday to find out if it will host a playoff game next Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Storm Comeback Falls Short, Losing Streak Extends to Four
Feb. 14 - After leading by one point at halftime, the Lake Erie College men's basketball team fell behind by as many as 13 in the second half of an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference contest at Penn State-Altoona and lost, 61-52. Freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's), the only Storm player to reach double figures, had 10 points.

Lake Erie (8-16, 4-7) battled the host Lions from the onset, but Altoona (7-15, 3-7) went on a 13-2 run starting at the 13:27 mark in the second half. The Storm rallied late but could not draw any closer than four points and after a 5-0 Lions' run, neither team scored over the final 1:41.

The Storm, which held a 29-28 halftime advantage, was outrebounded 41-30 on the game while giving Altoona 18 second chance attempts.

The men will host Pitt-Bradford in their final regular season home game ever in Lincoln Gym on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at 8:00. The contest will also be the Storm's last tune-up before conference tournament action begins on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Rustifo Collects 1,000th Career Point in Storm Loss
Feb. 11 - Lake Erie College's Mike Rustifo (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Perry) hit a three-point field goal in the final minutes of a 77-56 loss at Penn State-Behrend to become the seventh Storm player in school history to reach 1,000 points for his career. The senior, who played in just his fourth game of the year after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the preseason, finished with five points in 16 minutes.

Lake Erie will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 8:00, visiting Penn State-Altoona in its final Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference road contest.

Malensek Leads Storm in Conference Road Loss, Rustifo Reaches 1,000

Feb. 11 - Junior Nate Malensek (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire) totaled 15 points on seven-of-nine shooting and grabbed six rebounds, both team-highs, as the Lake Erie College men's basketball team suffered a 77-56 setback against Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference leaders Penn State-Behrend, the 19th ranked team in the nation according to D3Hoops.com.

After scoring the first basket of the game, Lake Erie (8-15, 4-6) kept the score close against the host Lions, but Tom Lulich, a junior, connected from behind the arc on three Behrend (20-1, 10-0) possessions midway through the opening half to open the Lions's attack. Behrend, which secured the league's regular season title with its last win, shot 6-of-10 on three-point attempts in the first half and finished the game shooting 11-of-16 from behind the arc. Meanwhile, the Storm only managed to hit 4-of-18 attempts from long distance.

Lulich totaled a game-high 18 points to lead Behrend while senior Casey Ponsoll contributed 15 points and went over the 1,000-point plateau for his career. Mike Rustifo (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Perry) became the seventh member of the Lake Erie 1,000-point club after hitting a three-pointer late in the second half. The senior finished with five points on the night. Freshman Kevin Albany (Brooklyn, Ohio/Brooklyn) added eight points and six rebounds in the losing effort.

Lake Erie returns to AMCC play on Saturday, Feb. 14, traveling to Penn State-Altoona for an 8:00 contest.

Harris Hits for Double-Double, Storm Lose
Feb. 7 - Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's), a freshman, scored a game-high 21 points and pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds for the Lake Erie College men's basketball team; however, the Storm dropped their Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference home match-up against Pitt-Greensburg, 73-66.

Lake Erie (8-14, 4-5) started the game on an 8-2 run, but the six-point spread would be the largest of the first half. After trading buckets for most of the period the Bobcats took a 31-30 advantage into the locker room. Harris had eight points and five rebounds to led the Storm while senior Scott Winfrey totaled eight points to pace Greensburg (11-11, 5-4).

A 9-1 run midway through the second half gave Greensburg a 61-50 lead that they would not relinquish. They held Lake Erie to a 34.9 percent shooting mark from the field, including a 2-of-20 day from behind the arc.

Senior A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) and junior Nate Malensek (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire) each added 11 points for Lake Erie while Winfrey had a team-best 20 for the Bobcats. Junior Kevin Conlon added 15 points in the win.

Lake Erie will be on the road next week, traveling to Penn State-Behrend, ranked 22nd in thenation by D3Hoops.com, on Wednesday, Feb. 11 and Penn State-Altoona on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Both games are scheduled to tip-off at 8:00.

Harris Picks Up Fifth Double-Double, Storm Rally but Fall Short
Feb. 4 - Freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) totaled 19 points and 10 rebounds to notch the fifth double-double of his collegiate career, but the Lake Erie College men's basketball fell short in a rallying effort against Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference opponent La Roche.

The Storm erased a 14-point halftime deficit and took their first lead of the game on two made free throw attempts by senior Aaron Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) at the 7:09 mark in the second half. Lake Erie (8-13, 4-4) stretched its lead to five, 64-59, when freshman Robert Williams (Richmond Heights, Ohio/Richmond Heights) connected on a 27-foot three-point attempt, but the host Redhawks ended the game with an 11-2 run to earn the win.

La Roche (9-11, 3-4), led by junior Demetris Pringle and sophomore Brandon Kelly, had a 39-25 halftime lead. Harris led Lake Erie with seven first half points while Johnson contributed five. However, the Storm generated a swarming full-court press during the break and went on a 24-8 run over the first six-plus minutes of the second half to end the Redhawks hopes of matching the 20-point loss they received at Lake Erie's Lincoln Gym on Dec. 6.

Johnson was the only other Strom player to reach double-digits in the game, totaling 11 points. Kelly led all scorers with 21 points while sophomore Hoover Gibson had 14 for La Roche.

Lake Erie will host Pitt-Greensburg on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 4:00 in Lincoln Gym. This will be the second meeting between the two teams. The Bobcats prevailed 72-70 at home on Jan. 17. Lake Erie's Mike Rustifo (Canton, Ohio, Massillon Perry), who returned two games ago, will attempt to become the second player this season and the seventh in school history to reach 1,000 points in his career. The senior needs only four points to join his classmate, Johnson, who reached the mark on Jan. 12.

Malensek and Rustifo Return in Lake Erie Win
Jan. 31 - Junior Nate Malensek (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire) registered 16 points and grabbed six rebounds in his first action since Dec. 7 to help lead the Lake Erie College men's basketball team to a 69-53 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference home win.

The Storm controlled a slow-tempo first half and used 10-2 run over the final 4:47 of the period to claim a 29-22 lead. Senior Tony Tibayan's desperation three-point attempt at the buzzer capped Lake Erie's (8-12, 4-3) run. Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) totaled eight first half points to lead the Storm while Frostburg (9-9, 4-3) senior Ryan Grabill had seven.

Lake Erie jumped out on Frostburg to start the second half, stretching its lead to 11 in the first five minutes, and maintained control for the duration of the game.

Tibayan finished with 16 points to equal Malensek while senior Mike Rustifo (Canton, Ohio/Massillon Perry), who came into the game 14 points away from reaching the 1,000 point plateau, scored seven in his first 19 minutes of play this year. Grabill had 20 points to lead the Bobcats, and sophomore Dan Ryley added 17.

The Storm return to action at La Roche on Wednesday, Feb. 4 for a 8:00 tip. Lake Erie came away victorious in the two team's first meeting, winning 88-68 at home on Dec. 6.

Men's Hoops Edges Altoona, 57-56
Jan. 24 - A last second three-point attempt by Penn State-Altoona's Wes Pifer, a senior, fell short, and the Lake Erie College men's basketball team came away with a 57-56 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference victory. Freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) led the Storm with 12 points.

In a tightly contested first half, Lake Erie (7-12, 3-3) entered the locker room at the break with a 28-24 advantage. The Storm limited Altoona (3-12, 0-5) to a 28.1 percent shooting mark from the field in the opening period to gain the lead. Lake Erie's Trevor Replogle (Catoosa, Okla./Northeastern Oklahoma A&M), a junior, had seven points to lead all scorers at the end of the half.

Lake Erie extended its lead to 10 twice in the early minutes of the second period but could not completely tame the Lions, who clawed to within one with 1:02 remaining in the game. However, Pifer could not convert on Altoona's final attempt.

Replogle finished with 10 points for Lake Erie while seniors Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) and Josh Smith (Youngstown, Ohio/Chaney) each pulled down eight rebounds. Justin Wolcott, a sophomore, totaled game-highs of 14 points and 14 rebounds in the losing effort.

The Storm will have a week off before returning home to host Frostburg State on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 4:00 in another AMCC contest. Lake Erie defeated Frostburg, 74-63, on the road earlier this season.

Harris and Johnson Lead Storm in Defeat
Jan. 21 - Freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) totaled 15 points and six rebounds to lead the Lake Erie College men's basketball team in an 80-60 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference loss at Pitt-Bradford. A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North), a senior, added 13 points in the losing effort.

Lake Erie (6-12, 2-3) struggled from the field in the opening half, shooting 40 percent, while the Panthers connected on 53.3 percent of their shots, including 6-of-12 three-point attempts. The Storm's shooting woes led to a 40-30 halftime deficit. Johnson led Lake Erie with nine points in the period while senior Matt Rowles totaled 13 points for Bradford (7-6, 3-1).

The struggles continued for Lake Erie, as they fell behind by as many as 23 in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, and would not draw closer than 15 for the remainder of the game. Rowles finished with a game-high 22 points while freshman Jess Whelan added 17 in the win.

Lake Erie returns home for another AMCC match-up, facing Penn State-Altoona on Saturday, Jan. 24 at 4:00 p.m. in Lincoln Gym.

Last of Twenty-Three Lead Changes Favors Greensburg, Storm Lose 72-70
Jan. 17 - A lay-up by Pitt-Greensburg junior Nate Watkins gave the Bobcats a 31-30 lead over the Lake Erie College men's basketball team with 5:51 remaining in the first half. It was Greensburg's first advantage in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference game that saw 23 lead changes and ended with the Bobcats on top, 72-70.

Lake Erie (6-11, 2-2) led for the majority of the first half and were ahead 30-21 at the 8:03 mark, but Greensburg (6-8, 2-2) used a 10-0 run to take its first lead and begin a back-and-forth battle between the two squads. The Bobcats, paced by junior Kevin Conlon's 16 first half points, took a 45-44 lead into the locker rooms. Senior A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) totaled 15 points to lead the Storm.

The Storm gained the largest lead of the second half, 62-57, with 10:47 remaining on the clock, but Greensburg again rallied, this time with a 6-0 run. A jumper by Johnson gave Lake Erie a 68-67 lead with 4:03 remaining, but Greensburg's Ryan Stetz, a sophomore, countered with a lay-up on the ensuing possession to put the Bobcats ahead for good. Lake Erie drew to within one point with 14 seconds remaining but oculd not convert on its final attempt.

Johnson led the Storm with 21 points while freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) and senior Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) each added 10 points. Harris also contributed a team-high eight rebounds, and Tibayan added five assists and four boards.

Lake Erie will go back on the road for another AMCC game against foe Pitt-Bradford on Wednesday, Jan. 21. The game, which will follow the women's contest, is scheduled to begin at 8:00.

Storm Drop Conference Home Game, Harris and Tibayan Shine in Loss
Jan. 14 - Freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) totaled 14 points to lead the Lake Erie College men's basketball team in a 72-49 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference loss versus Penn State-Behrend.

Lake Erie (6-10, 2-1) shot 29.6 percent from the field in the opening half while the visiting Lions connected on 61.5 percents of their shots, which all led to a 40-24 Behrend (11-1, 3-0) lead at the break. Harris totaled eight first half points to lead the Storm, and junior Jared Clough led three Behrend players in double-digits with 13 points.

The Storm improved their shooting in the second half, but Behrend countered nearly every Lake Erie basket with a bucket of its own. Senior James Curren collected 14 second half points to finish with 25 while Clough added 19 points and 12 rebounds. Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey), a senior, finished with nine points, seven assists and five rebounds in the losing effort.

Lake Erie will continue AMCC play with a road contest at Pitt-Greensburg on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 4:00.

Surprise!! You're a 1,000-Point Scorer
The Lake Erie College men's basketball coaching staff prides placing team achievements ahead of individual accomplishments, so when it was brought to their attention that senior guard A.J. Johnson was nearing the 1,000-point plateau the decision to keep it a secret was easily made.

Johnson, a native of nearby Willowick and graduate from Eastlake North High School, entered Lincoln Gymnasium on Monday, Jan. 12 for a non-conference game against Hilbert College oblivious to the fact he needed only five points to reach 1,000 for his career (in what was also his 100th career game), and he led the team to a 68-63 victory still without the slightest hint of his individual success.

"I knew I would eventually have a chance to get 1,000," Johnson said, "but I didn't ever think it would happen this early in the season."

In fact, no person outside the athletic department staff was aware, so when Johnson's parents were notified with less than 10 seconds to play in the game suspicions from Johnson himself began to arise.

"I heard the announcement for a special post-game presentation," Johnson said, "but I didn't think anything of it. I was so ecstatic, because we had picked up the win."

However, Johnson noted he noticed his parents huddling together with a camera during the final timeout.

"That was weird," Johnson commented. "But, still, it didn't come together for me I heard my name announced and saw my mom, with tears in her eyes, and dad coming to the court."

For some players the statistics are a point and click away, but those numbers have never been readily available for Johnson. He noted an uncertainty about his freshman year totals. 81 points. He knew his sophomore campaign was solid but could not give a definite number. 408 points. And last season definitely was not a replicate of the previous year. 298 points. However, combined with a steady 12.9 points per game average through the first eight contests and a recent surge over the past five games number 1,000 was imminent.

After posting 21 points in a 97-71 loss at Notre Dame on Dec. 16 Johnson slowed down his chase to join the now six member 1,000-point club. He scored only 15 total points in losses against Hilbert and Thiel; however, over the last five games Johnson has averaged 20.6 points per contest, which included a season-high 27 points in an overtime loss at Bluffton. He has also averaged 20.3 points per outing during the Storm's recent three-game winning streak, which has been more important to the senior leader than unknowingly chasing 1,000.

"This entire season's focus, for myself, the other seniors and the rest of the team, has been about improving, winning and getting to playoffs," Johnson said.

First-year assistant coach Brian Burg agreed.

"(Johnson's) achievement was certainly special, and he deserves recognition for his success, but the team's success has always been our, the coaching staff's, primary goal."

While the team moves forward in search of its first winning season and a shot at the conference championship, Johnson's accomplishment puts him in a distinguished class of Lake Erie alumni, which includes his former teammate Brandon Henderson, who accumulated 1,523 points over a four-year career that ended last season.

"I am honored to be in class with such great players, but it's time to focus on winning throughout the conference season," Johnson said. "That is what matters this year."

So, really, Johnson is not chasing what Henderson already has. He wants what the school's all-time leading scorer never got - a title.

Storm Win Third Straight, Johnson Joins 1,000-Point Club
Jan. 12 - Unbeknownst to himself, A.J. Johnson needed only five points to become the sixth member of the Lake Erie College men's basketball 1,000-point scorer club. The senior guard connected for a team-high 13 points in the 68-63 Lake Erie (6-9) win over Hilbert, avenging a 61-59 road loss against the Hawks on Dec. 18.

Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North), who leads the Storm in scoring with a 14.7 points per game average this year, had four points before drilling a three-pointer at the 12:31 mark to go over the 1,000-point plateau in his 100th career game. Meanwhile, the shot put Lake Erie ahead, 18-17; however, the Hawks responded with a 22-13 run to end the half ahead, 39-31. Johnson's nine first half points led Lake Erie while junior Sam Gioia led Hilbert (3-11) with 11 points.

Trevor Replogle (Catoosa, Okla./Northeastern Oklahoma A&M), a junior, and senior Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) led the Storm's second half surge. The duo combined for 16 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists. Freshman Robert Williams connected on back-to-back three-pointers with just over two minutes remaining to put the Storm ahead for good.

Tibayan finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists while Replogle contributed 11 points, four rebounds and three assists in the win. Hilbert freshman Keon Rembert led all scorers with 18 points, and Gioia finished with 15 points.

Lake Erie will return to Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference action, playing host to Penn State-Behrend on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 8:00.

Harris Records Career-High 26 Points in Storm Win
Jan. 10 - Freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) registered a career-high 26 points to go with 10 rebounds to lead the Lake Erie College men's basketball team in a 74-63 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference win over Frostburg State.

The Bobcats jumped out to an early 18-7 lead over the first seven and a half minutes of play, but Lake Erie (5-9, 2-0) held a 38-33 edge at halftime. Harris collected 17 first half points to lead the Storm while Frostburg State (5-7, 0-1) junior Chris Vaughn totaled 12 points to pace the Bobcats.

The Storm would relinquish their lead in the second half at the 7:34 mark when a three-point field goal by sophomore Jimmy Ward put Frostburg State ahead, 58-57. However, Lake Erie went on a 12-3 run over the next six minutes to earn the win.

Senior A.J Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) added 23 points in the win while fellow senior Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) recorded 10 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Storm. Vaughn led the Bobcats with 20 points in the losing effort.

Lake Erie will return home for a non-conference contest against Hilbert on Monday, Jan. 12 at 8:00 in Lincoln Gym, or immediately following the women's game at 6:00. The Hawks defeated the Storm, 61-59, on Thursday, Dec. 18 at Hilbert.

Johnson Named Conference Player of the Week
Jan. 5 - The Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference selected Lake Erie College men's basketball senior guard A.J. Johnson its player of the week today.

Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) was awarded the honor, which was based on all games played from Dec. 16 through Jan. 5, after averaging 17.2 points per game while also shooting a near perfect 23-of-24 from the free throw line in six Storm contests. Johnson recorded 27 points in a 76-71 overtime loss at Bluffton in the McDonald's of Bluffton Holiday Tournament on Monday, Dec. 29. He followed that performance with a 25-point outing, which included a perfect 11-of-11 day from the charity stripe, in a 92-81 Storm victory at Thiel on Saturday, Jan. 3. He also reached the 20-point plateau with a 21-point effort in a loss at Notre Dame.

Johnson and the rest of the Lake Erie men's squad will resume their conference play on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Frostburg. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00, or immediately following the women's game, which is slated to begin at 2:00.

Johnson's 25-point Effort Helps Stop Storm Losing Streak
Jan. 3 - A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) totaled 22 second half points to lead the Lake Erie College men's basketball team in a comeback 92-81 win at Thiel College. Johnson, a senior, finished with a game-high 25 points in the win while teammates and fellow seniors Dan Crawford (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood) and Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) finished 18 and 12 points, both season-highs, in the victory.

Lake Erie (4-9) trailed the Tomcats 43-37 at halftime after falling behind 7-0 to begin the game. The Storm cut the Thiel (4-7) lead to one three times in that opening half but failed to take a lead, and the Tomcats finished the period on a 14-7 run. Tibayan led Lake Erie with 10 points at the break, and Crawford added eight. Chris Kwolek, a freshman, had 11 points for Thiel.

The Storm drew within one point again, 47-46, at the beginning of the second half, but Thiel would extend its lead to 53-48 with 14:03 remaining in the game. After a three-point field goal by junior Trevor Replogle (Catoosa, Okla./Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) tied the game at 55, Johnson started a 9-0 Lake Erie run with a 15-foot jumper from the top of the key. The lead was the Storm first, and only, of the game. Thiel would close to within five points, 80-75, at the 1:24 mark but could not get any closer as the Storm preserved the win, their first since a Dec. 6 conference home win against La Roche.

Freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) 14 points in only 18 minutes of action due to foul trouble, a plague for both teams, who combined for 60 personal fouls during the contest. Senior Josh Smith (Youngstown, Ohio/Cheney), who fouled out late in the second half, added eight points and a team-high nine rebounds in the win. Kwolek led six Tomcat players in double-digits with 15 points.

Lake Erie will have a week off before traveling to Frostburg St. for its second Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference game. The men are scheduled to tip-off at 4:00, following the women's contest, which will begin at 2:00. The Storm is 1-0 in conference play thus far.

Slow Start Leads to Sixth Straight Lake Erie Defeat
Dec. 30 - The Lake Erie College men's basketball team fell behind 21-2 to open the McDonald's of Bluffton Holiday Tournament consolation game against Millikin, and despite another strong second half performance the Storm dropped their sixth straight, 87-76.

Millikin (7-2) began the contest with a 14-0 run over the first three minutes and extended the lead to 21-2 at the 14:41 mark. The Storm battled back to within 14 points, 45-31, with just under five minutes remaining in the half, but the Big Blue headed into the locker rooms with a 57-39 lead. Junior Trevor Replogle (Catoosa, Okla./Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) totaled nine points and four rebounds in the first period while freshman Jajcen Harris added eight points and six boards for Lake Erie (3-9). Jason Fisher, a junior, led Millikin with 19 points.

The Storm trailed by as many as 26 in the second half and were down 80-58 with 8:07 remaining before ending the contest with an 18-7 run. Harris ended with a double-double, 17 points and 12 rebounds, to lead Lake Erie while Fisher recorded a game-high 31 points in the win. Replogle, who was named to the all-tournament team, also added 17 points for the Storm, and senior A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) contributed 15 points.

Lake Erie travel on Saturday, Jan. 3 for a rematch against Thiel, which fought off the Storm for an 80-76 win on Dec. 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:00.

Buzzer Beating Three Not Enough for Lake Erie Hoops Squad
Dec. 29 - Trevor Replogle (Catoosa, Okla./Northeastern Oklahoma A&M), a junior, connected for his second three-point field goal of the night with one second remaining in regulation to send the Lake Erie College men's basketball team into overtime against Bluffton in the McDonald's of Bluffton Holiday Tournament, however, the Storm shot poorly in the extra period en route to a 76-71 defeat.

Bluffton (6-3) held a 40-28 halftime lead despite surrendering 17 points to Lake Erie (3-8) senior A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North). The Storm rallied in the second half using a 20-8 run to knot the score at 48 with just over 12 minutes remaining, and the men in green took their first lead at 58-55 following a three-pointer by Johnson at the 8:28 mark. Lake Erie extended its lead to 64-60 with 4:15 to go in regulation, but the Beavers countered with a 7-0 run of their own before Replogle hit his three-point attempt to send the game into overtime.

In the extra period Bluffton jumped out to an early six-point lead with three-pointers from sophomores Scott Bergman and Brett Mitchell. Meanwhile, the Storm mustered only one field goal in the five-minute bonus period while hitting two-of-four free throws.

Johnson led Lake Erie with 27 points while Replogle added 17 points, six rebounds and five assists. Senior Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) added 12 points and six rebounds in the losing effort. Brad Boyles, a senior, led Bluffton with 19 points on 8-of-11 shooting while Bergman and Mitchell contributed ten points each. Sophomore Eric Sweet also had 10 points in the victory.

The Storm will face Millikin, which lost to Goshen, 91-62, in the consolation game at 1:00 tomorrow, Dec. 30. The host school will tip-off against Goshen in the championship game, which will follow the consolation contest.

Storm Rally Falls Short, Lose 80-76 Versus Thiel
Dec. 22 - The Lake Erie College men's basketball team rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to draw within one point, 77-76, with just under one minute remaining in the game. However, Thiel (4-4) junior Daryl Moore connected on three-of-four free throw attempts to seal the Tomcat win. Lake Erie dropped to 3-7 with the loss, its fourth in a row.

Thiel built its first half lead behind the strong shooting performances of senior D.J. Gambridge and junior Ryan Singleton. Gambridge recorded 12 points on six-of-seven shooting while Singleton hit all three of his three-point attempts en route to an 11-point performance. Freshman Robert Williams (Richmond Heights, Ohio/Richmond Heights) and Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) led the Storm with eight points apiece while Tibayan added six rebounds and four assists.

Tibayan nearly recorded a triple double in the loss with nine points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists. Meanwhile, freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) totaled 20 points on seven-of-nine shooting, and Williams finished with 18 points and six rebounds. Gambridge had 16 points, leading four Tomcats with double-digit points. Damien Williams, a sophomore, contributed 15 while Singleton and Moore added 14 each. Freshman Kevin Albany (Brooklyn, Ohio/Brooklyn) was the only other player to reach double figures for Lake Erie, finishing with 13 points.

Lake Erie outrebounded the Tomcats, 39-34, in the loss but only shot 40.3 percent from the field, including 27.3 percent from behind the arc.

The Storm will continue their season on Monday, Dec. 27 at Bluffton in the McDonald's of Bluffton Tournament. They will face the host school at 8:00 p.m.

Bizarre Finish Leads to Third Consecutive Storm Loss
Dec. 18 - Freshman Robert Williams (Richmond Heights, Ohio/Richmond Heights) connected on a three-point field goal with 16 seconds remaining in the Lake Erie College men's basketball non-conference match-up with Hilbert to knot the score at 59, however, the Hawks junior point guard, Sam Gioia responded with a pull-up jumper over Storm senior Dan Crawford (Lakewood, Ohio/Lakewood). After this sequence of events an extreme oddity ended Lake Erie's (3-6) comeback efforts, which began with the storm trailing by eleven with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game.

With three seconds on the clock, senior A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) looked to enter the ball with a full court pass to junior Trevor Replogle (Catoosa, Okla./Northeastern Oklahoma A&M), but the ball got caught in a net divider that drops from the ceiling, resulting in a turnover. Hilbert (3-6) regained possession, hit one-of-two free throws, and the game ended with the Hawks on top, 62-59.

The Storm jumped out to an early 11-2 lead to open the game, but forward Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) picked up two fouls and was forced to sit the final 11-plus minutes of the opening period. Hilbert took advantage of the 6-6 freshman's absence, and gained a 34-28 halftime lead. Freshman Kevin Albany led the Storm with 10 points at the break; however, he did not return to action in the second half.

Williams matched Albany's 10 point effort to lead the Lake Erie while senior Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey), Crawford and Harris each finished with nine points. Harris also registered a team-high nine rebounds. Paul Marvin, a senior, led Hilbert with 17 points.

The men's squad will return to Lincoln Gym on Monday, Dec. 22 with another non-conference game. They will face Thiel at 7:00.

Johnson and Replogle Lead Storm in Loss
Dec. 16. - Senior A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) totaled 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting while junior Trevor Replogle (Catoosa, Okla./Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) added 17 points to lead the Lake Erie College men's basketball team in a 97-71 non-conference loss at Notre Dame.

The Storm trailed 20-16 with 12:14 left in the opening half, but Notre Dame (5-8) used a 23-9 run over the following seven minutes to build a sizable lead. Mike Dodge, who connected on seven-of-eight three-point field goal attempts in the period, finished with 23 first half points. The junior hit two key threes during the Falcons run to stall rally attempts by Lake Erie (3-5). Dodge led all scorers at the break while Notre Dame held to a 55-38 lead. Replogle ended the period with 11 points and four rebounds to lead the Storm.

Notre Dame outrebounded the Storm, 41-27, while shooting 54.4 percent from the field. Chad Hazard, a junior, finished with 11 points and 11 assists in the win, and fellow junior Nate McKibben also recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Replogle had a team-high six rebounds for Lake Erie.

The Storm will head to Hilbert on Thursday, Dec. 18 for an 8:00 contest. The game will follow a match-up between the Lake Erie and Hilbert women's squads. Tip-off for that contest is 6:00.

Harris and Johnson Reach Double Figures in Loss
Dec. 7 - Freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) finished with team-highs in points and rebounds, scoring 13 points and pulling down seven boards, while senior A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) added 12 points as the Lake Erie College men's basketball team suffered an 88-69 non-conference defeat at Division II Edinboro (3-4).

The Fighting Scots jumped out to an early 12-2 lead, but Lake Erie (3-4) rallied with seven-point run to cut the lead to three. The Storm would come within two points of the hosts with just over 14 minutes remaining in the opening half, but Lake Erie would draw no closer for the remainder of the game. Edinboro ended the first half on 12-0 run over the final 4:53 to go into the locker rooms with a 50-30 advantage. Harris led Lake Erie with eight points at the break while Rob Green, a senior, totaled 14 to pace the Fighting Scots.

Lake Erie did not come within 17 points of Edinboro in the second half, as the Fighting Scots attack never relented. Junior Jakim Donaldson led Edinboro with 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting while Green finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Donaldson also added 10 boards. Juniors Arvin Kotrri and Rob Sims added 16 and 15 points, respectively, in the win while freshman Robert Williams (Richmond Heights, Ohio/Richmond Heights) totaled seven points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals in the losing effort.

The Storm has over a week off to prepare for their next contest, a 7:30 match-up at Notre Dame on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Men's Hoops Rolls to AMCC Win
Dec. 6 - Five players hit the double-digit mark in points to lead the Lake Erie College men's basketball team to an 88-68 win over AMCC rival La Roche. The Storm's Kevin Albany (Brooklyn, Ohio/Brooklyn), a freshman, led all scorers with 21 points and added 12 rebounds. Fellow freshman Robert Williams (Richmond Heights, Ohio/Richmond Heights) added 18 points and five assists in the win while junior Demetris Pringle totaled 20 points to lead the Redhawks.

The two teams were knotted at 14 with 12:46 remaining in the opening half, but La Roche (0-4, 0-1) went on a 13-6 run to build a 27-20 lead. The Storm responded with a 23-9 run of their own to end the half. Williams had 15 points on five-of-nine shooting, including three-of-six from behind the arc to lead Lake Erie (3-3, 1-0). Junior Nate Malensek (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire) added nine points for the Storm while Pringle totaled nine for La Roche.

La Roche closed to within four points, 59-55, at the 12:41 mark in the second half, but that was as close as they would get. The Storm went on a 10-2 run to extend their lead to 69-57. The 12-point deficit was too much for the Redhawks, and Lake Erie converted numerous failed La Roche opportunities to end the game with a 19-9 spurt.

Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa-Angela-Saint Joseph's), a freshman, Malensek and senior A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) were the other three Storm scorers in double-digits. Harris contributed 14 points and 11 rebounds while Johnson added 14 points. Malensek finished with 13 points. Senior Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) totaled four points, five assists and 11 rebounds in the win.

Meanwhile, freshman Stacy Grady had 12 points and senior Cliff Foster dished out 13 assists in the losing effort.

The Storm will travel to Edinboro tomorrow afternoon, Dec. 7, for a non-conference match-up. The game, which is scheduled for 4:00, will air on WBKC 1460 AM.

Poor Shooting Leads to Lopsided Loss for Storm
Dec. 3 - The Lake Erie College men's basketball team shot a season-low 38.6 percent from the field in an 82-61 loss against Mount Union in the Storm's home season opener. Freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) led Lake Erie (2-3) with 13 points and 10 rebounds while Rob Paulauskas, a senior, totaled 16 points for the Purple Raiders.

The Storm kept the game tight in the early minutes of the contest, trailing 30-27 with 6:18 left in the opening half, but Mount Union (3-2) went on a 14-0 run to end the period. Chris Blakely, a junior, scored nine of his 11 points in the first 20 minutes while fellow junior Brett Hershberger also contributed nine points. Paulauskas and junior Brad Gerrard added eight points apiece. A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) registered a team-high eight points, heading to break, to lead the Storm.

The Purple Raiders continued their run at the start of the second half, outscoring Lake Erie 20-9 in the first eight minutes as the Storm's shooting woes continued. Hershberger finished with 14 points while junior Trevor Replogle (Catoosa, Okla./Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) had 12 points for the Lake Erie.

For the game, Mount Union outrebounded Lake Erie 35-33 while causing 24 turnovers, and the Purple Raiders shot 50.8 percent from the field.

Lake Erie returns to action on Saturday, Dec. 6 against La Roche in both of the team's first Allegheny Mountain Conference game of the season. The women's teams will tip-off at 2:00 and will be followed by the men at 4:00.

Second Half Rally Falls Short
Nov. 29 - The clock thwarted a late rally by the Lake Erie College men's basketball team, as the Storm fell, 93-88, to John Carroll, the 11th ranked team in the nation according to d3hoops.com, in the championship game of the Cleveland Cage Classic.

The Storm almost completely erased a 17-point halftime deficit with 43 seconds remaining in the second half, but a three-point field goal attempt by senior A.J. Johnson, which could have cut the lead to 91-89, rimmed out. Michael Grogan, a junior, connected on with the first two free throws to give the Blue Streaks a 92-86 advantage, and Jon Franks grabbed an offensive rebound after Grogan missed the second. Grogan went back to line and again hit one-of-two following a foul by Johnson.

Robert Williams, a freshman, hit a jumper in the lane with four seconds left for what proved to be the game's final points. Williams (Richmond Heights, Ohio/Richmond Heights) finished with a game-high 24 points, which included a 17-point second half performance.

Lake Erie (2-2) trailed, 50-33, at halftime after committing 17 turnovers, which led to 15 John Carroll points. Grogan led the Blue Streaks with 13 first half points while Johnson, Williams and junior Nate Malensek (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire) had seven apiece for the Storm.

Trailing 70-55 with 11:11 left in the game, Lake Erie went on a 31-19 run, which was capped by a Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) three-pointer, to draw the Storm within three, 89-86, with 55 seconds left.

Johnson finished with 20 points while Malensek added 17. Freshman Kevin Albany (Brooklyn, Ohio/Brooklyn), who was selected to the all-tournament team, scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds in the loss. As a team, Lake Erie shot 54.7 percent, including a blistering 54.5 percent from behind the arc. They also held John Carroll (4-0) to 42.9 percent from the field on the game, however, the Blue Streaks outrebounded the Storm, 49-37, on the game and 27-9 on the offensive glass.

The Storm will open their home season on Wednesday, Dec. 3, hosting Mount Union in a non-conference match-up at 7:00.

Albany and Replogle Pace Storm to Win
Nov. 28 - After trailing from the opening tip-off, the Lake Erie College men's basketball team rallied late in the second half and took the lead on a three-pointer from junior Nate Malensek with 5:49 remaining in the game in a 70-65 win over Hiram in the opening round of the Cleveland Cage Classic. The Storm would not relinquish their only lead of the game.

Freshman Kevin Albany (Brooklyn, Ohio/Brooklyn) led Lake Erie (2-1), finishing with 20 points and nine rebounds after posting 14 points in the opening half, while junior Trevor Replogle added 15 points and nine rebounds in the win.

Early turnovers and 11 first half fouls left Lake Erie with a 39-32 halftime deficit. Hiram (1-2) shot 12-of-25 from the field and 13-of-17 from the charity stripe in the opening half. Junior T.C. Spencer led the Terriers, posting 10 points, six coming from the free-throw line.

The Storm opened the second half much stronger, creating several Hiram turnovers. A reverse lay-up by Replogle (Catoosa, Okla./Northeastern Oklahoma A&M) drew Lake Erie within one with just under 10 minutes remaining in the contest. Malensek (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire) followed his go-ahead three-pointer with a 15-foot jumper from the same left corner to solidify the Storm lead.

A.J. White hit two-of-three free throws with 13.9 seconds left after a shooting foul was called on Malensek to cut the Storm lead to 66-63, however, an intentional foul put Replogle on the line. He converted both attempts and senior A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) blocked the Terriers final shot to seal the victory. Replogle recovered the loose ball, was fouled, and again hit two free throws to end all scoring.

Malensek finished with 14 points for Lake Erie while Carlton Dean, a junior, totaled a team-high 13 points for Hiram. The Storm outrebounded Hiram, 38-28, and held the Terriers to 33.3 percent shooting in the second half, including 2-of-10 from behind the arc.

Lake Erie will face John Carroll in the championship game of the tournament at 5:00 while Hiram will face Case Western. John Carroll topped Case Western, 94-74, in the second game on Friday.

Balanced Attack Leads Storm in 85-69 Victory
Nov. 22 - Freshman Jajcen Harris scored 13 first half points as the Lake Erie College men's basketball team jumped out to an early 17-2 lead over Philadelphia Biblical University en route to a 85-69 win in the consolation game of the Buzz Ridl Classic at Westminster (Pa.) College. The Storm used a balanced attack while holding off a second half surge to earn their first victory.

Lake Erie (1-1) received nine points from senior A.J Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) in the opening half while junior Nate Malensek added eight points and four rebounds.

However, Philadelphia Biblical (0-2) closed to within nine points late in the second half. Sophomore Jeremy Coleman, who was held to one point in the first half scored 17 second half points, including nine during the 14 minute stretch to open the period, to finish with a team-high 18.

Lake Erie senior guard Tony Tibayan (Painesville, Ohio/Harvey) calmed the Crimson Eagle run, scoring six of his 17 points and dishing out two of his game-high seven assists in the final six and a half minutes to secure the win.

Malensek (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire) finished with 18 points and seven rebounds to lead the Storm while Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's), who earned all-tournament honors, totaled 15 points and five rebounds in 28 minutes of action. Johnson finished with 13 points, and junior Trevor Replogle (Catoosa, Okla./Northeast Oklahoma A&M) added 12 points on 5-of-5 shooting.

As a team, Lake Erie shot 60.7 percent from the field while limiting the Crimson Eagles to a 41.1 percent performance, including a 6-of-28 (21.4) showing in the first half. The Storm also outrebounded Philadelphia Biblical, 37-28.

Lake Erie returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 28 versus Hiram in the Cleveland Cage Classic at John Carroll. Tip-off is slated for 6:00.

Malensek Leads Storm with 13 in Season-Opening Loss
Nov. 21 - The Lake Erie College men's basketball team dropped a 66-46 decision to Centre (Ky.) College in the opening round of the Buzz Ridl Classic hosted by Westminster (Pa.) College. Junior Nate Malensek (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire) led the Storm with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting in 32 minutes of action.

Centre used a 15-0 run to break a tie early in the opening half to gain control of the game. With the contest knotted at 11 with 11:04 remaining in the first period, Colonels' freshman Reggie Magnusson began the run with a layup. Magnusson, a native of Iceland, added seven more points during the 4:28 stretch. A score and one by Storm senior A.J. Johnson (Willowick, Ohio/Eastlake North) at the 6:36 mark cut the lead to 13, but that was as close as Lake Erie would get for the remainder of the game.

Magnusson led all scorers with 21 points, shooting 7-of-12 from the field, while seniors Jason Atwell and Rob King added 15 points and 14 points, respectively. Freshman Jajcen Harris (Cleveland Heights, Ohio/Villa Angela-Saint Joseph's) totaled nine points and five rebounds in the loss while Johnson and Kevin Albany (Burton, Ohio/Berkshire), a freshman, each had seven points.

Lake Erie (0-1) shot 19-of-63 from the field as a team and was outrebounded, 51-32.

The Storm return to action tomorrow night, Saturday, Nov. 22, at 6:00 in the consolation game of the Buzz Ridl Classic versus Philadelphia Biblical University.

WBKC Radio to Air Lake Erie College Basketball
Nov. 20 - Lake Erie College will have a package of its NCAA men's basketball games in the 2003-04 season broadcast on radio in Northeast Ohio by WBKC-1460 AM. A total of nine games will be aired, all road contests, in an agreement between the Lake Erie athletic department and WBKC's Clarence Bucaro.

The broadcasts begin with the season opener on Friday, Nov. 21 when the Storm meets Centre College of Kentucky in the opening round of the Buzz Ridl Classic at New Wilmington, Pa. LEC's final round game in that event will also be aired the following night. Two additional non-conference game will be carried, at Division II Edinboro on Sunday, Dec. 7 and at Thiel on Saturday, Jan. 3.

A total of five Allegheny Mountain Conference games will also air, including games at Pitt-Greensburg, Pitt-Bradford, La Roche, Penn State-Behrend and Penn State-Altoona.

Ken Krsolovic, who broadcast Saint Joseph's University basketball in Philadelphia for the past 14 seasons, will handle the play-by-play.

The following is the complete broadcast schedule:

Friday, Nov. 21 Buzz Ridl Classic (at Westminster) vs. Centre at 6:00
Saturday, Nov. 22 Buzz Ridl Classic vs. Philadelphia Bible or Westminster at 6:00 or 8:00
Sunday, Dec. 7 at Edinboro at 7:30
Saturday, Jan. 3 at Thiel at 3:00
Saturday, Jan. 17 at Pitt-Greensburg*^ at 4:00
Tuesday, Jan. 21 at Pitt-Bradford*^ at 8:00
Wednesday, Feb. 4 at LaRoche*^ at 8:00
Wednesday, Feb. 11 at Penn State-Behrend*^ at 8:00
Saturday, Feb. 14 at Penn State-Altoona*^ at 8:00


* denotes Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference contest
^ denotes men's and women's doubleheader