(RMC release)
GREAT FALLS – The No. 22 ranked Rocky Mountain College Battlin’ Bears struggled to contain the No. 25 ranked Providence Argos in an 86-74 loss Saturday night.
Providence (16-7, 7-5 FC) ran away with the lead after a 27-4 run at the beginning of the game. Five Argos scored in the double digits, led by Brandon Cotton’s 22, as the Battlin’ Bears (16-8, 7-5 FC) failed to keep pace.
Lukas Vining posted a career-high 26 point performance to lead the Battlin’ Bears in the scoring column. Jared Samuelson contributed 16 points while Craig Wilmore provided an additional 15.
Led by Wilmore’s nine boards, Rocky out-rebounded Providence 43-39.
The Battlin’ Bears were good for 35.8 percent from the field and 32.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Argos posted a 52.5 field goal percentage and sank 48 percent of their threes.
Rocky Mountain College will next play the Lewis-Clark Warriors on Feb. 7 in Lewiston, Idaho. The game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. PST.
