BILLINGS, Mont. – The Rocky Mountain College men's basketball team lost an exhibition game to MSU Billings, 82-75, on Wednesday night in the Fortin Center.
 
Rocky shot just 38.7 percent from the field and made 8 of 25 from beyond the arc. They had a 49-38 advantage in rebounds, including collecting 22 offensive rebounds. The Battlin' Bears could only turn those extra chances into 14 second chance points.
 
Chad Kananen led Rocky with 18 points. The senior had four makes from beyond the arc while adding three assists and two steals.
 
The game changed late in the first half when MSU Billings scored 13 straight points during a 19-6 run to close the half. Rocky led by five after a Kananen three at the 6:44 mark of the half before the Yellowjackets got going.  
 
After falling behind by 11 early in the second half, Rocky went on a run of their own. They outscored the 'Jackets 12-2 during a 5-minute span and when Austin Payne hit from deep at the 10:53 mark the Battlin' Bears were down 54-53.
 
MSUB would take control of the game over the following six minutes, outscoring Rocky 17-7 and forcing four turnovers to push their advantage back to 11. The Bears would only get as close as five the rest of the night.
 
Satchel McDonald gave Rocky 11 points and eight rebounds. He also recorded five assists and three steals. Latrelle Franklin added 10 points and six assists.
 
The 'Jackets scored 16 points from 17 Rocky turnovers and outscored the home team 40-36 in the paint. Kendall Denham led MSUB with 18 points and six assists.
 
Rocky will return to regular season action this weekend when they face Salish Kootenai in Pablo. Tipoff on Saturday is scheduled for 4 p.m.