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Rocky Mountain College Athletics

Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears

Events and Results

Events and Results

Owens vs UP '25
Jacob Jewett
98
Winner Rocky Mountain (MT) ROCKY 16-7, 5-5
93
Montana Western (MT) WESTERN 12-11, 4-6
Winner
Rocky Mountain (MT) ROCKY
16-7, 5-5
98
Final
93
Montana Western (MT) WESTERN
12-11, 4-6
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Rocky Mountain (MT) ROCKY 47 51 98
Montana Western (MT) WESTERN 42 51 93

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

Jesse Owens’ Career Night Helps Hold Off Bulldogs 98-93

BILLINGS, Mont.- Jesse Owens poured on a career-high 31 points to propel the Battlin' Bears to a road win over Montana Western. 

The Rocky men sank 30 free throws in the victory at a 76.9% clip on the evening, setting a season-high in made free throws. Their 50% rate from three-point range also set a season-high, while 98 points is the most in a conference game this season and the most since a 102-92 overtime victory over OUAZ in December.  

How it Happened
After a span of slow starts, the Rocky offense hit seven of their first ten shots on the evening, with a three-pointer from Jesse Owens giving the Battlin' Bears a 16-15 lead after the first five minutes of play. After over two minutes of scoreless action, both teams began to trade baskets, with neither team larger than four until another Owens three-pointer with nine minutes to go gave the Battlin' Bears a five-point advantage.  

A quick 7-0 run from the Bulldogs allowed them to grab a lead back from Rocky. The Battlin' Bears settled the momentum by earning trips to the free throw line, shooting seven-of-eight of their attempts over a two-minute stretch to take a six-point lead, eventually leading to a five-point halftime advantage. Both teams had big offensive halves, with the Battlin' Bears shooting 45.3% from the field with six made threes, while the Bulldogs shot 42.1% with nine offensive boards. 

The offensive shootout continued into the second half, but neither team broke away from the other through the first ten minutes of the second half. Despite 14 lead changes in the first half, the Rocky men held the lead throughout the half until a layup from Kyle Gruhler at 5:53 gave Montana Western a slim one-point lead. 

A back-and-forth second half became tied again with a made free throw from Jacob Akney with 2:15 remaining in the game. It was a combination of excellent free throw shooting and a strong defensive effort that held Montana Western scoreless for over 90 seconds, allowing the Battlin' Bears to eventually break away for a five-point victory. 

Notable Statistics
Jesse Owens lit up the stat sheet on a career night, totaling 31 points, including shooting 12-of-12 from the free throw line, along with eight rebounds and seven assists. Jaylon Lee returned to the court with another double-double, his 13th of the season, finishing the night with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks following a two-game absence. 

Carter McCoy also finished the evening with a double-double, his fifth of the season. McCoy ended with a stat line of 16 points and 14 rebounds. Omari Nesbit was also in double figures, adding 13 points. 

The Battlin' Bears produced one of their best offensive nights of the season, shooting 49.2% from the field, 50% from three-point range, and 76.9% from the free throw line. It was the fourth game this season in which the Battlin' Bears have hit 10 or more three-pointers and the first time since December 15th. 

Jalyn Stepney totaled a team-high 21 points with four made threes for the Bulldogs. Abi Adedo added 20 points and nine rebounds on nine-of-14 shooting in just 21 minutes after picking up his fifth foul. 

Up Next
The Battlin' Bears (16-7, 5-5 conf.) will take on the University of Providence on Saturday afternoon in Great Falls. 
 
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