Skip To Main Content

Rocky Mountain College Athletics

Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears

Events and Results

Events and Results

Robinson vs MSUB
Brandon Stinson
69
Montana State University Billi MSUB 1-2, 0-0
70
Winner Rocky Mountain (MT) RMC 3-1, 0-0
Montana State University Billi MSUB
1-2, 0-0
69
Final
70
Rocky Mountain (MT) RMC
3-1, 0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Montana State University Billi MSUB 38 31 69
Rocky Mountain (MT) RMC 35 35 70

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Brandon Stinson | Sports Information & Media Coordinator

Wilson’s Clutch Free Throws Secure a 70-69 Comeback Victory for Rocky Men’s Basketball

BILLINGS, Mont.- Despite a four-point deficit in the final 30 seconds, the Battlin' Bears escaped with a one-point victory after clutch free throw shooting from A.J. Wilson secured a win in the Battlin' Bears home opener. 

Neither team held a lead larger than six in the first half as both teams traded baskets throughout the half. Elliott Brooks led the scoring for the Rocky men in the first half with 11 points, including three three-pointers. The Yellowjacket's Zharon Richmond answered with three of his own and his two free throws at the end of the half gave MSU Billings a three-point halftime lead. 

MSU Billings slowly built their lead in the second half, as a dunk by Emmanuel Ajanaku gave them a seven-point lead with 13:58 remaining, the largest lead by either team. A quick 8-0 run from the Battlin' Bears over the next two minutes gave them the lead back, as the Battlin' Bears attacked the Yellowjackets in transition. Zharon Richmond continued to be the focal point of MSU Billings' offensive output, getting to the free throw line on back-to-back possessions, before Famous Lefthand hit a three-pointer to spark a 13-5 run to give the Yellowjackets an eight-point lead in the final four minutes of play.

The Rocky men quickly answered back with their own run, as Kael Robinson leaked out in transition for an open dunk and Maxim Stephens battled through two of his own putback attempts for an and-one layup to cut the deficit back to two with 2:23 remaining. A.J. Wilson shot two free throws after being fouled on a defensive rebound, hitting both to tie the game. Zharon Richmond was fouled on the following possession, hitting his seventh and eighth free throws of the night to push the Yellowjacket lead to two. 

The score held at 67-65 until Jalen Tot hit a high-arcing layup with 27 seconds left to put the Yellowjackets up four. Kael Robinson was fouled after receiving the following inbounds pass, hitting one of his two free throws, but a scramble for the rebound off the miss resulted in a jump ball, giving the Battlin' Bears possession. Robinson would be fouled again on the following possession, again hitting one of two attempts, bringing the score to 69-67 into a Yellowjackets timeout. 

Following the timeout, MSU Billings was called for an offensive foul before the ball was inbounded, giving possession back to the Battlin' Bears. A.J. Wilson received the inbounds pass, taking a stepback three-pointer, only to be fouled by the Yellowjackets, putting him at the free-throw line with three shots. Wilson sank all three attempts to give the Battlin' Bears the lead and the win, as a half-court heave by Jalen Tot was no good. 

The Battlin' Bears were led by two double-doubles from their starting New Zealanders, as Kael Robinson scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Maxim Stephens scored 13 and grabbed 11 boards. A.J. Wilson scored 15 points and was 5-5 on his free throw attempts, while also swiping two steals on the night. The Battlin' Bears shot 37.5% from the field (24-of-64), 30.4% from three (7-of-23), and only 60% from the free throw line (15-of-25). They forced 12 Yellowjacket turnovers and held them to only 24% (6-of-25) from three-point range. 

The Rocky men (3-1) will take a week off of competition, before heading to Dickinson, North Dakota for the Sam Milanovic Classic, where they will take on Valley City State and Dickinson State on November 24th and 25th. 
 
Print Friendly Version