Vikings best Cuyahoga at Skippers Classic

Jordan Lomax poured in a game-high 17 points to lead Glen Oaks Community College in a 68-63 men's basketball victory over Cuyahoga Friday night at the Skippers Classic, hosted by St. Clair County. 

Akin Smith had 16 and Kelvion Brown finished with 12 in the effort, which moved the Vikings to 6-2 overall this year. 

Glen Oaks jumped out to a 12-3 lead after a Smith Layup and GOCC would maintain a comfortable lead until Cuyahoga began to creep back midway through the first half. A Malachi Jackson 3-pointer cut the Viking lead to 18-16, but baskets by Amauri Moore and Smith, and a pair of free throws by Joreim Lomax made it a six-point game at the 9:11 mark. 

Jordan Lomax continued to build momentum for Glen Oaks with a triple, followed by a layup by Moore that made it a 29-18 lead for the Vikings with 7:32 to play in the first half. A Marlon Gaitan 3-pointer and a basket by Smith gave GOCC a 16-point cushion. Gaitan knocked down another trey in the closing minutes as Glen Oaks took a 39-25 lead into the break. 

But Cuyahoga came out fired up in the second half and went on a 14-0 run to erase that lead and tie the game with 15:34 remaining. The teams traded leads for the next eight minutes and were tied again, 52-52, with 6:51 on the clock. 

A Keri Foster jumper put Glen Oaks back in front and Jordan Lomax followed with a lay-in. Brown's jumper and another layup by Jordan Lomax gave the Vikings a 60-52 lead. Brown made it a 10-0 run with a jumper at 3:48 and the Vikings were able to hang on for the win. 

Moore finished with nine points, Gaitan had six, Joreim Lomax produced four and Wesley Roberts had two. Smith led the squad with 11 boards and Brown grabbed nine. Moore also boasted four assists, while Jordan Lomax recorded three steals.