NORTH CANTON, Ohio - The Walsh Cavaliers closed out the 2020-21 regular season with a home-and-home series with the Lake Erie Storm on Saturday (Feb. 27) and Sunday (Feb. 28). Walsh defeated the Storm 84-61 on Saturday at Alumni Arena before closing out the sweep 78-74 Sunday at the Osborne Center. 

With the sweep, Walsh closed out the regular season with an 11-8 record heading into the Great Midwest Men's Basketball Tournament on Tuesday. 

Saturday 2/27 (W, 84-61)

Walsh got off to a fast start in the game Saturday as they led by as many as 23 in the first half. The Cavaliers went wire-to-wire in the game against the Storm, leading for all but 34 seconds behind key performances from a number of players. 

BY THE NUMBERS

• Christian Simmons scored a game-high 28 points in 25 minutes of action. Simmons knocked down seven-of-ten shots from the floor (one three) and 13-of-14 free throws in the game. He was perfect in the first half with five shots and seven free throws made, totaling 18 points. He also accounted for seven rebounds and one block.
• Darryl Straughter was the second player in double-figures with 22 points scored. He made eight-of-16 shots including five three pointers made. He had 14 points in the first half. 
• Caleb Canter neared a double-double with eight points and a team-high nine rebounds.
• Nic Smith led the bench players with nine points.
• The Cavaliers finished the game shooting 47.6% (30-of-64) from the field, 31.8% (seven-of-22) from deep and 81% (17-of-21) from the free throw line. 
• Lake Erie had a 39.3% (22-of-56) shooting percentage, shot 22.2% (six-of-27) from three point land and made 11-of-12 free throws (91.7%). 
• Walsh won the rebounding battle 42-27 with 15 offensive boards in the game. 

Sunday 2/28 (W, 78-74)

Contrary to Saturday, Lake Erie got off fast with an 8-0 run and 15 of the first 19 points. The teams exchanged the lead five times and tied twice throughout the game. The Storm led for 15 minutes in the first half as Walsh took a 38-33 lead into halftime. Lake Erie took back the lead with 13:46 left, 52-51, and opened a six-point lead. Milan Square tied the game at 59 with 9:53 on a three-pointer as Walsh went on an 11-0 run. The lead closed to two in the closing minutes but Walsh closed the game with a 78-74 win.

BY THE NUMBERS

• Christian Montague led the Cavaliers with 21 points, five rebounds, five assists and a career-high six steals. Montague made eight-of-15 shots, three-of-five three pointers and two-of-four free throws.
• Milan Square scored 20 points on seven field goals, four three pointers and two free throws. 
• Darryl Straughter added 15 points while going six-for-six at the free throw line. The senior had five assists as well. 
• Caleb Canter nearly had a double-double with eight points (four-of-four shooting) and a team-high 11 rebounds.
• The Cavaliers were outshot in field goal percentage and three point percentage as the Cavaliers made 46.0% (39-of-63) of shots overall and 37.5% (nine-of-24) from deep. Walsh was the better free throw shooting team at 73.3% (11-of-15).
• Lake Erie shot 50% (28-of-56) for the game and nailed 41.9% of the three point attempts (13-of-31). 
• Walsh outrebounded the Storm 38-30, while winning the offensive rebound category 10-3. 

Walsh will head to Malone on Tuesday (March 2) for the G-MAC Quarterfinal matchup as the sixth seed. Tipoff for the third matchup with the Pioneers will tip-off at 6:00 PM.

-WC-