DICKINSON, N.D. – Despite a strong showing from the bench and a balanced offensive effort, Dickinson State came up short in a 65-62 loss to Rocky Mountain College in Frontier Conference play Saturday night at Scott Gymnasium.

The Blue Hawks (2-6, 0-2 Frontier) led by four at halftime, 32-28, and shot 45.5% from the field, but could not withstand a late push by the Battlin' Bears (5-1, 2-1), who outscored DSU 37-30 in the second half.

Weston Zacher paced Dickinson State with 12 points off the bench, connecting on 4-of-6 from the field and hitting a key three-pointer in the first half. Griffyn Doughty added 11 points, including 5-of-6 from the free throw line, while Cordell Stinson contributed 10 points and six rebounds. The Blue Hawks' bench accounted for 38 of the team's 62 total points.

Jake Daniel finished with eight points and five rebounds in a starting role, and Britton Cranston added six points, including an early three-pointer to give DSU a 6-2 lead less than two minutes into the game. The Blue Hawks maintained control throughout much of the first half and held Rocky Mountain to just 26.9% shooting in the opening period.

However, Rocky Mountain responded in the second half, led by Royce Robinson's 19 points and eight rebounds. Omari Nesbit followed with 17 points, including two three-pointers, while Drew Bowman added 10 points off the bench for the Bears. Rocky held a 36-31 edge in total rebounds and outscored DSU 15-6 in points off turnovers.

The game remained within one possession for most of the final five minutes. DSU had a chance to tie the game on its final possession but was unable to convert before the final buzzer. Dickinson State committed 12 turnovers to Rocky's seven, and despite shooting 85% from the free throw line (17-of-20), the Blue Hawks struggled to generate second-chance opportunities, recording just one offensive rebound on the night.