The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Men's Basketball team dropped both games of the ARCC Holiday Classic this past weekend, first falling to Dakota County Technical College 80-74, then dropping a rematch with North Dakota State College of Science 84-70.
vs. Dakota County Tech (DCTC) (L 80-74)
In a rematch of the Blue Knights win earlier in the season, the Golden Rams played exceptional defense in taking a 7-1 lead six minutes into the game.
DCTC would go on a 11-1 run over the next three minutes to take a 12-8 lead.
The Blue Knight advantage would grow to six 16-10 with 9:22 to play before the Golden Rams would get their offense rolling.
The score was knotted at 26 with four minutes left in the half when Anoka-Ramsey scored the next seven points to take a 33-26 lead with 2:23 to play. The teams exchanged free throws and Anoka-Ramsey led 34-27 with 1:53 left.
But DCTC would close the half with ten straight points to take a 37-34 lead into the break.
Anoka-Ramsey outscored the Blue Knights 7-2 in the first two minutes of the second half to retake the lead at 41-39.
DCTC retook the lead 43-41 and extended it to 46-41 with 17:08 to play.
The Blue Knights maintained the lead over the next nine minutes, with their biggest lead coming at 58-51 with 10:42 to play.
But the Golden Rams would continue to fight back with a 9-0 run to retake the lead 60-58 with 8:43 to play.
The lead would change hands three times over the next five minutes with the score tied at 69 with 3:12 left.
But the offense stalled for the Golden Rams as the Blue Knights scored the next five points and held on for the win.
Anoka-Ramsey came into the game shooting 35 percent from the three-point line as a team, but managed just 20 percent (3 of 15) from beyond the arc vs. the Blue Knights.
Trenton Pollard led the scoring with 18 points.
Brandon Hixson scored 16 points to go with seven rebounds.
Robert Ben scored 13 points on 5 of 9 shooting.
Justin Casey chipped in 12 points, and Kashif Hayes scored ten off the bench.
vs. North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) (L 84-70)
The Golden Rams were looking to avenge an earlier loss to the Wildcats, but despite a valiant effort, they came up short in their final tune-up to MCAC play.
The first half proved to be a defensive battle for much of the period as neither team was able to get much offense rolling.
NDSCS held a 14-8 lead seven minutes into the game.
The Golden Rams would chip away and tie the score at 17 with ten minutes left in the half.
After a made field goal by the Wildcats, Chris Byrgiotis would connect on a three-point shot to give the Golden Rams a 20-19 lead with 8:55 to play.
The Wildcats responded with a three of their own to retake the lead 22-20 with 7:42 left and score would stay that way over a two minute stretch.
The Golden Rams responded with a 8-0 run, scored entirely by Trenton Pollard, to take a 28-22 lead with 3:56 to play.
But the wheels fell off over the last 3:56 as the Wildcats would hold Anoka-Ramsey to just 1 of 6 shooting while connecting on 6 of 8 shots themselves (including four threes) during an 18-2 run ending the half up 40-30.
The Wildcats extended the lead to open the second half taking a 57-38 advantage with 14:36 to play and the deficit would not get below twelve the rest of the night.
Pollard led all scorers with 28 points on 8 of 14 shooting including 5 of 7 from the three-point line. He also connected on 7 of 8 free throws.
Tyler Matsen scored 14 points off the bench.
The Golden Rams only committed seven turnovers for the game but were out-rebounded 38-28.
The Wildcats shot 14 of 33 from the three-point line.
Anoka-Ramsey drops to 6-7 on the season and will begin MCAC Southern Division play on Wednesday at MSCTC-Fergus Falls.
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