The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Men’s Basketball team held on for a 72-69 victory over the Minnesota State – Fergus Falls Spartans on Wednesday night. Anoka-Ramsey entered the game 1.5 games behind Fergus in the MCAC Southern Division standings.
The game was tight throughout with neither team leading by more than seven points.
With the Golden Rams leading scorer, Trey Scott, in foul trouble in the first half, Anoka-Ramsey pounded the ball inside to big men Dan Konz and Matt Fridberg. Konz had 13 points in the opening period, including a shot-clock-beating, off-balance, three-pointer. Fridberg recorded eight points in the half.
Anoka-Ramsey held Fergus Falls to 33.3% shooting in the opening period. However ten offensive rebounds by the Spartans kept it a five point game at the break, 34-29 in favor of the Golden Rams.
The second half continued to be tight, with Anoka-Ramsey pulling ahead by seven with about four minutes remaining. Following a timeout, the Spartans hit two quick threes to trim the deficit to just one point.
Anoka-Ramsey was able to make some big plays down the stretch including a dunk by Matt Fridberg off a nice pass from Richard Harmon, a three by Ben Hill, and a steal and layup by Scott to keep the Golden Rams in control.
Hill went to the line with 5.8 seconds remaining and the Golden Rams ahead by two. Hill made the first free throw but, following a Spartan timeout, Anoka-Ramsey committed a lane violation giving the Spartans one last hope.
On the inbounds pass, the Spartans stepped on the sideline trying to push the ball up the court and Anoka-Ramsey safely inbounded the ball to run out the clock, preserving the win.
The Golden Rams shot 51% for the game and made 16 free-throws to the Spartans 10. Fergus Falls shot 39.7% and committed 16 turnovers for the game. Anoka-Ramsey also went to the inside game regularly, attempting a season-low nine three-pointers and making four.
Anoka-Ramsey was led by Konz with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Scott followed with 19 points and three steals. Fridberg scored 14 points and Richard Harmon recorded ten points to round out the double-figure scorers.
The Golden Rams improve their record to 17-7 on the season, 5-4 in the MCAC and alone in fourth place in the Southern Division, a half-game behind Fergus Falls and two games ahead of Riverland.
Anoka-Ramsey travels to Brainerd, MN to take on nationally-ranked Central Lakes College on Saturday, February 12th at 3:00pm. In their first meeting, Central Lakes narrowly defeated the Golden Rams 86-83 in overtime.
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