BILLINGS – Carroll College came in ranked No. 3 in the nation, but Rocky Mountain College shocked the Fighting Saints, 78-66, in a Frontier Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night in Billings.
Craig Wilmore got Rocky rolling with an early lay-up and a one-handed jam, and the Battlin’ Bears never stopped coming.
Carroll led 21-16 midway through the first half, but Rocky finished the half on a 28-15 run to take a 44-36 lead into the break.
Rocky held Carroll at arm’s length the entire second half, as the Fighting Saints never got closer than six points.
Rocky canned 11 triples on the night and shot 49 percent from the field.
Junior forward Jared Samuelson led everyone with 21 points and 11 rebounds, while Wilmore chipped in 20 points. Danny Betcher and Brandon The Boy also reached double figures for on the night.
Carroll’s Matt Wyman led the Fighting Saints with 17 points.
The Carroll women were threatened, as well, but the Saints survived a third-quarter charge by Rocky and went on for the 59-50 victory.
Rocky opened the game with a 13-4 run, but Carroll quickly responded to cut the deficit to one after the first quarter.
Carroll outscored Rocky by seven in the second quarter and carried a 30-24 lead into halftime.
Carroll quickly stretched the advantage to 10 points in the third before Rocky answered with an 8-0 run and made it a 38-36 game. That was as close as the Bears would get, though. The Saints went on an 8-0 run of their own right after that Rocky spurt and never looked back as they pulled out the win.
Jaidyn Lyman led the Saints with 14 points and Danielle Wagner added 10. Rocky was led by Alecia Chamberlin with 15.
