Sagan Osborne – Dickinson State Sports & Marketing Information Director
Billings, Mont. - Dickinson State men's basketball suffered a narrow 63-62 loss to Rocky Mountain College in a tightly contested game on Sunday evening at the Fortin Education Center. The Blue Hawks battled until the final buzzer but were unable to convert on their last possession, dropping to 6-7 on the season.
The first half saw both teams trading leads, with Dickinson State maintaining a slim 36-35 advantage at halftime. Kose Egbule led the Blue Hawks in the opening frame with 11 points and eight rebounds, dominating the glass on both ends of the court. The team shot 38.5% from the field and knocked down four three-pointers, building their lead through efficient inside-out play.
Rocky Mountain (11-2) responded with defensive adjustments in the second half, limiting Dickinson State to 32.4% shooting from the floor. The Battlin' Bears relied on a balanced scoring effort, with Jesse Owens contributing 10 of his team-high 15 points in the final 20 minutes. Despite Rocky Mountain's defensive pressure, the Blue Hawks remained competitive, with Cordell Stinson adding seven points and seven rebounds in key moments.
The game's pivotal sequence occurred in the closing minute. Dickinson State held a 62-61 lead with under 30 seconds to play following a mid-range jumper from Egbule. However, Carter McCoy's contested layup with three seconds remaining put Rocky Mountain ahead 63-62. The Blue Hawks had an opportunity to win but could not convert a three-point attempt at the buzzer.
Egbule led Dickinson State with 19 points and 12 rebounds, recording his fifth double-double of the season. Stinson added 11 points and nine rebounds, providing a strong interior presence off the bench. John Evans chipped in 10 points and four rebounds, while Weston Zacher contributed eight points, including two three-pointers, in a supporting role.
Overall, the Blue Hawks shot 35.6% from the field and 21.9% from beyond the arc, compared to Rocky Mountain's 38.7% and 17.6%, respectively. Dickinson State outrebounded the Battlin' Bears 39-38 and held a 25-11 edge in bench points but struggled to capitalize on turnovers, scoring just eight points off Rocky Mountain's 12 miscues.
Defensively, the Blue Hawks contained the Battlin' Bears from long range, allowing just three three-pointers on 17 attempts. However, Rocky Mountain's 85.7% free-throw shooting proved to be a key factor in the game's outcome, as the Bears converted 12 of 14 attempts compared to Dickinson State's 3 of 5.