The Basics
Score: Montana Western 80 – No. 22 Rocky Mountain College 79
Record: UMW (8-17, 2-12), RMC (16-10, 7-7)
Location: Straugh Gymnasium - Dillon, Mont.
 

The Bulldog fought hard to defeat the Rocky Mountain College Battlin' Bears 80-79 Saturday night. Kooper Kidgell hit two free-throws with 5.7 seconds left in the game to give the Bulldogs the win. 
The Bulldogs struggled from the opening tip, quickly finding themselves in a 11-0 hole. Later in the half the Bulldogs used a 10-0 run of their own to take the lead for the first time with just under four minutes remaining in the opening half. Rocky responded in the second half, once again building a multi-possession lead. The Bulldogs would chip away at it and take a six point lead with five minutes to play. Kooper Kidgell then connected on two clutch free-throws to give UMW the lead. With 5.7 seconds left in the game and the Bulldogs up by a point, the Battlin' Bears in-bounded the ball only to have their player run out of bounds to turn the ball over right back to the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs missed the ensuing free-throws and Rocky's desperation 3-point heave at the buzzer hit the back Iron to give the Bulldogs their first home conference win of the season. 

Individual Leaders

• Cedric Boone scored 19 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
• Kooper Kidgell scored 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and a steal. 
• Collin Achenbach came off the bench to score eight points, four rebounds, and three assists. 
• Jaycob Payne scored eight points in the second half off the bench.
• Jared Samuelson led the Battlin' Bears with a game-high 21 points and seven rebounds. 
• Clayton Ladine added 14 points for Rocky. 

Inside the Box Score

• Troy Scott and Carter Kearns both left the game in the second half due to injury and did not return. 

Up Next

• The Bulldogs will face Montana Tech  Feb. 14 in the Straugh Gymnasium. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
• The game will be a "Red Out." Free admission to everyone who wears red.