University of Montana Western Press Release
GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The Montana Western men's basketball team (16-13) saw its season come to an end against Rocky Mountain College (19-10) in the Frontier Conference Tournament this evening, falling 88-86.
Jalyn Stepney led the Bulldogs in scoring with 20 points.
How It Happened:
Kevin Bethel and Abi Adedo got the Bulldogs off to a strong start, scoring the game's first four points. Stepney added two three-pointers to help build Western's early lead. However, Rocky responded with a 7-0 run to reclaim a 17-14 advantage.
Alan Kane, Jacob Ankeny, and Kyle Gruhler each contributed to keep the Bulldogs in a back-and-forth battle, while Jacksen Burckley knocked down a three. However, the Bears capitalized on Bulldog turnovers, scoring seven points off giveaways and shooting 53.1% from the field to take a 46-36 lead into halftime.
Rocky extended its lead to as much as 13 early in the second half, but Kane and Burckley helped keep the Bulldogs within striking distance.
With just under four minutes to play, the Bulldogs mounted a run, holding the Bears scoreless for nearly two minutes and cutting the deficit to 79-74. Rocky answered with a timely three, but Stepney responded with one of his own. After a steal, Kane scored to bring Western within three at 82-79. Stepney then drilled a deep three to tie the game at 82-82, but Rocky quickly regained the lead with a basket at the 45.8-second mark.
With a chance to tie, Kane's shot rimmed out, and Rocky capitalized at the free-throw line to go up by three. Gruhler scored with seven seconds left to make it 85-84, but Rocky converted two more free throws to extend the lead. Bethel responded with two clutch free throws to cut it to 87-86, but another Rocky free throw made it 88-86. Gruhler's potential game-winning three at the buzzer rimmed in and out, sealing the Bears' victory.
Notables:
Kane scored 16 points, pulled down two rebounds, recorded two steals, and dished out two assists.
Bethel finished with 11 points and five assists.
Adedo finished the game with eight points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
Five Western players scored in double figures (Stepney, Bethel, Kane, Gruhler, and Burckley).
The Bulldogs went 16-16 from the free-throw line.
Rocky out-rebounded the Bulldogs 33-27.
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