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Rocky Mountain College Athletics

Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears

Events and Results

Events and Results

Jourdan vs MSUB '24
Jacob Jewett
75
Winner Rocky Mountain (MT) RM 2-0, 0-0
74
College of Idaho CI 1-2, 0-0
Winner
Rocky Mountain (MT) RM
2-0, 0-0
75
Final
74
College of Idaho CI
1-2, 0-0
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Rocky Mountain (MT) RM 41 34 75
College of Idaho CI 36 38 74

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

Rocky Men’s Basketball Takes Down No.1-Ranked College of Idaho in a 75-74 Thriller

CALDWELL, Idaho.- The Coach Neville era for Rocky Men's Basketball is off to a blazing start, as the Battlin' Bears move to 2-0 after defeating the defending NAIA National Champions 75-74 on the road. 

Omari Nesbit scored the go-ahead basket with 26 seconds remaining to give Rocky a one-point lead. Rocky's defense stepped up to close out the game, forcing a Yote's turnover and defending a last-second shot opportunity to preserve the victory on the road. A physical, back-and-forth matchup totaled 47 fouls and 63 free throws between the two teams. An early-season battle featured 14 ties and 18 lead changes throughout. 

How It Happened
Rocky's opening possessions set a tone early in the contest, as Omari Nesbit scored on the first possession of the game, Kyle Jones followed it up with a steal on the other end, and Royce Robinson dropped in a layup to give the Battlin' Bears an early advantage. Both teams would settle in, but the Yotes would make their offensive impact from the free throw line, making nine-of-11 from the charity stripe in the first 10 minutes to take their largest lead of the half of five with 10:34 to go in the first half. Three-pointers from Omari Nesbit and Drew Bowman quickly erased this deficit, as an 8-3 Rocky run gave them the lead back. 

The Battlin' Bears made an impactful run to close out the first half, as a pair of three-pointers from Mekhi Jourdan sparked a 13-6 run for Rocky in the final three minutes to grow their halftime lead to five. 

Neither team had much offensive momentum, combining for two-of-15 from the floor in the opening four minutes, but College of Idaho's free throws continued to keep them in the contest. Throughout the second half, neither team could break away, and the largest lead by either team was four points. 

Entering the final three minutes, Mekhi Jourdan would sky for an offensive rebound and draw a foul, hitting both of his free throws to give Rocky a two-point lead. College of Idaho would tie the game at 70-70, before forcing a turnover and converting on the other end for a two-point lead with just 55 seconds remaining.

In a back-and-forth game, it was Omari Nesbit who stepped up for the Battlin' Bears in the final minute. The senior sank a three-pointer to give Rocky the lead back with 43 seconds remaining. After the Yotes went two-for-two at the free-throw line on the other end, Nesbit stepped up again with a floater that dropped in with 26 seconds left, which turned out to be the game-winner and the final basket scored in the contest. 

Notable Statistics
Kyle Jones totaled a game-high 18 points, including four made three-pointers, along with three steals. Omari Nesbit added 16 points and five rebounds, with four three-pointers of his own. Sherman Royal III and Mekhi Jourdan each added ten points, combining to shoot five-of-six from the field, two-of-two from three-point range, and eight-of-eight from the free throw line. Carter McCoy grabbed a team-high seven rebounds, while Cameron Quinnell added six. 

The Battlin' Bears shot 37.1% from the field and 32.4% from three-point range, drilling 11 threes in the win. Rocky combined to shoot an impressive 18-of-22 from the free throw line and narrowly outrebounded the Yotes 37-36. Each team totaled 15 turnovers. 

College of Idaho was led by a trio of Treasure State prep products scoring double figures, including Alex Germer (15), Rey Johnston (14), and Dougie Peoples (12). 

Up Next
Rocky Men's Basketball (2-0) wraps up their weekend on Saturday with a matchup against Northwest University at 5:30 pm (MT). 
 
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