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Rocky Mountain College Athletics

Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears

Events and Results

Events and Results

Spencer vs
Finn Rolseth
59
Embry-Riddle (AZ) EMBRY-RI 0-2, 0-0
73
Winner Rocky Mountain (MT) ROCKY MO 1-0, 0-0
Embry-Riddle (AZ) EMBRY-RI
0-2, 0-0
59
Final
73
Rocky Mountain (MT) ROCKY MO
1-0, 0-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Embry-Riddle (AZ) EMBRY-RI 27 32 59
Rocky Mountain (MT) ROCKY MO 30 43 73

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

Strong Second Half Leads Rocky Men’s Basketball to Season-Opening Victory Over Embry-Riddle 73-59

BILLINGS, Mont.- Rocky Men's Basketball used a complete team effort offensively and defensively to charge to a season-opening victory at home 73-59. 

How it Happened
Embry-Riddle was the first team to grab momentum through the first ten minutes of play, as an 8-0 run helped the Eagles jump to a 19-11 lead early on. With an early rotation that featured 11 different Battlin' Bears seeing minutes in the first half, Rocky sparked a run before halftime, as they closed out the half on a 16-6 run over the final six minutes. The run featured points from seven different Battlin' Bears and three steals defensively, with a three-pointer from A.J. Wilson capitalizing the run with a three-pointer to give Rocky a 30-27 lead at the halftime break. 

Ball movement and unselfishness were key to Rocky's early run, as nine different Battlin' Bears scored in the first half. 

Jaylon Lee, a six-foot-nine inch, 245-pound transfer from College of the Sequoias, was dominant under the basket to begin the half, getting back-to-back baskets to open up the half to extend Rocky's lead. 

The following six minutes would be a crucial stretch of the game, as the Battlin' Bears held the Eagles without a point amidst a 15-0 run. Jake Klingler finally broke the dry spell with a three-pointer just inside the 12 minute mark, with Rocky still holding a 15-point lead. 

Embry-Riddle sparked a run of their own in response, as they would put together a 13-3 run over five minutes to cut their deficit to single digits. Still, Jesse Owens would quickly extinguish the momentum with a three-pointer to boost the lead back to 11 with six minutes remaining in the game. 

With Embry-Riddle heating up offensively, the Rocky men finished the game shooting 5-7 from the field in the final six minutes of play, securing a victory on opening night in the Fortin Education Center. 

Notable Statistics
Newcomers for the Battlin' Bears were keys to their victory on Friday evening, as Jaylon Lee led the Battlin' Bears with 13 points, nine rebounds, and two steals. Colton Spencer added 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists, and Royce Robinson finished the evening with nine points, five rebounds, and two steals. 

Kade Erickson finished the evening with 11 points off the bench, and Jesse Owens contributed nine points, three assists, and three steals. 

The Battlin' Bears crashed the offensive boards efficiently with 13 offensive rebounds on the evening, led by Carter McCoy with five on the evening. The Rocky defense forced 20 turnovers overall, with five different Battlin' Bears tallying two or more steals. 

Rocky controlled the game inside, totaling 30 points in the paint compared to Embry-Riddle's 15. 

Embry-Riddle was led by Noah Gifft's game-high 16 points, hitting 4-8 of his three-point attempts. 

Up Next
The Battlin' Bear Men (1-0) will size up the No. 6-ranked Arizona Christian Firestorm on Saturday at 7:00 pm in the Fortin Education Center. The Rocky women will precede the men's game at 5:00 pm. 
 
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