(RMC Athletics release)
HAVRE, Mont. – Jared Samuelson scored with 0.5 seconds to play in regulation to help the Rocky Mountain College men’s basketball team stun Montana State-Northern, 73-72, in the quarterfinals of the Frontier Conference Tournament at Armory Gymnasium.
Samuelson matched his season-high with 32 points in the game, but none were bigger than the final basket. After MSU-Northern (19-12) went ahead by one on a 3-pointer from Cayeveoon Jones, Samuelson missed a jumper at the top of the key. The rebounded rolled around on the floor where the junior picked it up and slipped a jumper from 10 feet into the hoop for the win.
No. 5-seed Rocky (18-13) led for most of the night, but with 1:59 to play No. 4-seed Northern held its largest lead of the night at 69-65. Craig Wilmore hit a big 3-pointer on the ensuing Rocky possession and then Samuelson scored in the paint to put Rocky back in front.
After a defensive stop from Rocky, Northern was forced to foul. Samuleson split a pair at the line to setup the final 21.6 seconds of action.
The Battlin’ Bears had one of their better shooting nights of the season at 51.7 percent, including 38 points in the paint. They hit on 5 of 15 attempts from beyond the arc with 19 assists and just seven turnovers.
Samuelson went 13 of 22 and made a season-high four from beyond the arc. He also grabbed 10 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the year.
Northern shot 44.1 percent with nine makes from deep. They finished with 17 assists and seven turnovers. Rocky had a 33-31 edge in rebounds and got 10 points from eight offensive rebounds.
Wilmore finished with 11 points and five assists. Latrelle Franklin added 10 points and five assists off the bench.
The Lights got 17 points from Adam Huse and 16 apiece from Ryan Reeves and Charles Porter.
With the win, Rocky advances to a semifinal game at No. 1-seed Carroll College on Friday in Helena. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. from the Carroll P.E. Center.
