Turnover battle key in Blue Hawks loss at Rocky Mountain

BILLINGS – John Evans had a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds and Josiah Haaland had another efficient day, scoring 11 points on 3-4 shooting, but turnovers and free throws proved to be the difference as the Blue Hawks (4-9, 0-1) fell, 70-60, to Rocky Mountain College (9-5, 1-1) to cap off the Green and Gold Classic in Billings, Montana.

Dickinson State actually outshot Rocky Mountain on the night both from the field, 41.5 percent to 39.1 percent, and from deep, 29.2 percent to 28.6 percent, but a 19-6 edge in turnovers gave the Battlin' Bears the edge they needed to erase an early Dickinson State lead and cruise to the home victory. The hosts also went 14-15 from the free throw line while the Blue Hawks shot just 9-18.

Dickinson State held early leads of 10-3 and 23-15, fueled by nine first-half points from Kose Egbule including the first seven of the game. Despite several runs by RMC, DSU was able to hang on to the lead and head into the half up 33-32.

An Evans three-pointer have DSU a 38-34 advantage with 19:05 left in the game, but a 21-5 run by Rocky Mountain flipped the script and put the Bears up 55-43 with 9:48 left in the game. DC Stewart knocked down a three from the corner to halt the run and bring DSU back to within single digits. Dickinson State got all the way to within five on a free throw with a minute left in the game, but the shots stopped falling from there and RMC was able to hang on and seal the game from the line.

Tyce Dahlberg pulled down eight rebounds and Trey Hladky added six points for Dickinson State as both battled foul trouble throughout the game.

WHATS NEXT

The Blue Hawks will return home to take on the University Jamestown on Tuesday, January 3 at 5:30 pm in Scott Gym in a make-up from the game cancelled during the winter storm.