Rocky bests Northern in OT for men’s crown

BUTTE — Royce Robinson scored 29 points, including the go-head 3-pointer in overtime, and Rocky Mountain College edged MSU-Northern 79-77 for the Frontier Conference men’s basketball title Monday at the Civic Center. 

Omari Nesbit, who flung in a 65-foot shot to lift Rocky over Montana Tech 76-75 in Sunday’s semifinals, added 13 points. The Battlin’ Bears (28-3) learned on Sunday that they will host first- and second-round games in the NAIA Tournament. The NAIA selection show is Thursday. 

Northern’s Austin Ramos scored 19 points and hit two free throws with 5 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime. That came after Mekhi Jourdan hit a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left to put Rocky up 71-69. 

Northern (17-13) led 56-51 when Tracen Jilot converted a three-point play with 10:15 left in regulation. Kyle Jones got Rocky back in front 57-56 with a jumper at the 8:38 mark and the lead changed hands eight more times. 

Ramos gave the Lights their last lead, 75-74, with two free throws at 3:15 of OT. Robinson, a sophomore out of Lewistown, drained a 3-pointer at the 2:57 mark to put the Battlin’ Bears up 77-75. Robinson hit a layup 30 seconds later.  

A steal and two free throws by Ramos cut the gap to 79-77 with 41 seconds left and after the Bears missed a layup, Northern called time with 3 seconds remaining. Jilot got off a three that missed. He had 11 points.  

Luke Holecek added 17 for the Lights, while Leon Sayers IV added 14 and Claysen Delp, 10.