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Rocky Mountain College Athletics

Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears

Events and Results

Events and Results

Nesbit vs Simpson '26
Bailee Walls
59
Simpson (CA) SIMPSON 16-12, 7-2
94
Winner Rocky Mountain (MT) ROCKY 29-3, 20-2
Simpson (CA) SIMPSON
16-12, 7-2
59
Final
94
Rocky Mountain (MT) ROCKY
29-3, 20-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Simpson (CA) SIMPSON 32 27 59
Rocky Mountain (MT) ROCKY 58 36 94

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

Two-Seed Rocky Men’s Basketball Rolls Past Simpson University 94-59 in the NAIA National Championship First Round

BILLINGS, Mont.- Omari Nesbit totaled a career-high 31 points, including 28 in the first half, to lead the Battlin' Bears to a blowout victory in the NAIA Men's Basketball Championship First Round. 

The Battlin' Bears will return to an energetic Fortin Education Center on Saturday at 4:00 pm (MT) to take on tenth-seeded The Master's University with a trip to Kansas City on the line. 

How It Happened
While the Red Hawks tallied the first points of the contest with a three-pointer, it was all Battlin' Bears from there on out. After Jacob Bilodeau opened Rocky's scoring with a three-pointer, he would spark a 13-0 run, where he and Omari Nesbit would combine for all 13 of the points, sinking all three of their three-point attempts. While the Red Hawks would respond to cut their deficit back to six, Rocky would sink seven of their next nine shots from the field, including all four of their three-point attempts, to extend a 20-point lead with nine minutes to play in the first half. The three-point barrage would continue for the Battlin' Bears, as they would total 13 first-half three-pointers, including seven from Omari Nesbit, as Rocky led by 26 points at the halftime break. 

It was more of the same for the Battlin' Bears in the second half, extending a lead as large as 36 points, giving no doubt in their dominant NAIA National Tournament victory. 

Notable Statistics
Omari Nesbit poured on a career-high 31 points, sinking eight of 11 from three-point range and playing just 26 minutes. Drew Bowman and Sherman Royal III each tallied 13 points off the bench, while Mekhi Jourdan added 12 points and six assists. 

Rocky shot 50% from the field and 46.3% from three-point range, draining 19 on the evening. The Battlin' Bears outrebounded Simpson 37 to 21, snagging 12 offensive rebounds and converting them into 23 second-chance points. 

Simpson was led by Timothy Parker, who tallied 14 points in the defeat. 

Up Next
Rocky Men's Basketball (29-3), winners of their last 19 straight contests, will take on No. 10-seed The Master's University on Saturday at 4:00 pm (MT) in the Fortin Education Center. 
 
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