(Editor’s note: Rocky Mountain College media release)
BUTTE — The Rocky Mountain College men’s and women’s basketball teams earned a road sweep of Montana Tech on Friday. The Battlin’ Bear men escaped with an 84-80 overtime win, and the Rocky women got an 83-75 win.
Rocky Mountain College men 84, Montana Tech 80 (OT)
Rocky Mountain College narrowly escaped a Montana Tech comeback with a thrilling 84-80 victory in overtime.
The Battlin’ Bears (19-10, 10-7 FC) led by 14 points (45-31) but were out-scored 43-29 in the second period. With 29 seconds left, Montana Tech’s (16-14, 6-12 FC) Taylor England split a pair of free throws to send the game into overtime at 74-74.
Down by 1 with 1:20 left in overtime, Rocky’s Clayton Ladine sank a three pointer to put the Battlin’ Bears up 82-80. That proved the final blow for the Orediggers who wouldn’t score again.
The pair of Craig Wilmore and Clayton Ladine scored 20 points apiece for the Battlin’ Bears. Jared Samuelson contributed an additional 15 points while Brandon The Boy added 12.
The Battlin’ Bears shot 48.5 percent from the field and went 12-of-34 from beyond the arc.
Montana Tech held a 35-27 advantage in boards. Rocky held a 14-9 advantage in steals.
The Battlin’ Bears had trouble containing Taylor England who scored 22 points and 17 rebounds for his eighth double double of the season.
Rocky Mountain College will next travel to Helena to play the Carroll College Fighting Saints in their final game of the regular season. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Rocky Mountain College women 83, Montana Tech 75
Kicking off their final road trip of the regular season, No. 24 ranked Rocky Mountain College secured a 83-75 victory over the Montana Tech Orediggers.
Markaela Francis and Kloie Thatcher accounted for more than half of Rocky’s points on the night. Shooting 10-of-13, Francis paved the way with 24 points. Thatcher scored 22 points with four assists after going 14 for 14 on the free throw line.
Three other Battlin’ Bears, all seniors, scored in the double digits. Marissa Van Atta scored 13 points while Brooke Jones and Alecia Chamberlin posted 10 point performances.
After a close first period, the Battlin’ Bears (19-10, 10-7 FC) created some distance from the Orediggers (13-16, 5-12 FC) with an 14-2 run in the second. Up 43-32 at halftime, Rocky managed to maintain the lead the rest of the way.
The Battlin’ Bears shot 52.9 percent from the field and drained 30 percent from beyond the arc.
Led by Chamberlin’s nine boards, Rocky held a 34-27 rebound advantage.
Montana Tech’s Kaylee Zard powered the Orediggers’ efforts with 19 points with nine rebounds.
Rocky’s final game of the regular season will take place against the Carroll College Fighting Saints tomorrow in Helena. The action will tip off at 5:30 p.m.
