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Rocky Mountain College Athletics

Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears

Events and Results

Events and Results

Owens vs UMW '25
Providence Athletics
88
Winner Rocky Mountain (MT) Bears 19-10, 7-8
86
Montana Western (MT) Bulldogs 16-13, 8-7
Winner
Rocky Mountain (MT) Bears
19-10, 7-8
88
Final
86
Montana Western (MT) Bulldogs
16-13, 8-7
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Rocky Mountain (MT) Bears 46 42 88
Montana Western (MT) Bulldogs 36 50 86

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

Rocky Men’s Basketball Takes Down Montana Western 88-86 to Advance to Frontier Conference Semifinals

GREAT FALLS, Mont.- All five Battlin' Bears finished in double figures as Rocky held on to a second-half lead to defeat Montana Western in the first round of the Frontier Conference Tournament. 

The Rocky men shot 53.1% from the field in a strong offensive effort. Their free-throw shooting was crucial down the stretch, as they sank 22 of 29 attempts in the contest. 

Rocky advances to the semifinal round for the first time since the 2022-23 season and will learn their matchup for Monday night following the conclusion of Sunday's games. 

How it Happened
The beginning of the fourth matchup between the Battlin' Bears and the Bulldogs was largely back and forth, as points in the paint were where the Rocky men found success early. After Jackson Burckley hit a three-pointer to cut Rocky's lead to one with four minutes to go in the first half, Rocky's offense would extend the lead into half, finishing the final four minutes on a 13-4 run to take a 46-36 advantage into halftime. Seven different Battlin' Bears would contribute in the score column, as Jaylon Lee scored 10 first-half points to lead the scoring. 

Royce Robinson was the engine of the Battlin' Bear offense early in the second half, scoring eight points in four minutes to help maintain the Rocky lead. After Montana Western chisled down their deficit to four, Royce Robinson and Omari Nesbit combined for an 8-0 run to extend the lead back to double digits. 

The Bulldogs came storming back in the final four minutes, as Montana Western combined for an 8-0 run to tie the game with one minute remaining. Carter McCoy would get a tough layup to fall on the following possession to give Rocky the lead back, and clutch free throw shooting down the stretch allowed the Battlin' Bears to hold their lead through the final whistle. 

Notable Statistics
Omari Nesbit would lead all Battlin' Bear scorers with 18 points, along with five rebounds and three steals. Royce Robinson scored 12 of his 16 points in the contest in the second half, also adding two steals, blocks, and assists. Jesse Owens finished with 15 points and six assists, Carter McCoy added 15 points and eight rebounds, and Jaylon Lee totaled 12 points, five assists, three blocks, and two steals. 

The Battlin' Bears totaled 11 offensive rebounds, which they converted into 14 second-chance points. Their scoring down low was also a strong suit, scoring 34 points in the paint. 

Jalyn Stepney led all scorers with 20 points for Montana Western, while Alan Kane added 16 on eight-of-11 from the field. 

Up Next
The Battlin' Bears (19-10) will play in the semifinals on Monday evening. After Sunday's games, their game time and opponent will be determined. 
 
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