RCTC Splits Weekend Road Trip: Falls to Northland, Bounces Back Against Itasca
The Rochester Community and Technical College men's basketball team faced a challenging two-game road swing this past weekend, dropping a hard-fought contest to Northland Community & Technical College on Friday before rebounding with an impressive win over Minnesota North College-Itasca on Saturday.
Game 1: Northland 78, RCTC 72 (Dec. 5)
The Yellowjackets opened the weekend in Thief River Falls against Northland, where a slow start proved costly. RCTC fell behind early as Northland exploded for 49 first-half points, fueled by hot shooting from beyond the arc. The Yellowjackets trailed 49-26 at halftime, but they refused to go quietly.
In the second half, RCTC mounted a furious comeback, outscoring Northland 46-29 and cutting the deficit to single digits late in the game. Despite the rally, the early hole was too deep to overcome, and the Jackets fell 78-72.
Key Performers:
- Julian Carter led the way with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, adding three rebounds and two blocks.
- Charlie Morning contributed 15 points and a team-high seven assists, while also pulling down six boards.
- Off the bench, Brandon Wilson provided a spark with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and three steals.
- Tycen Vig added seven points and six rebounds in a strong effort inside.
As a team, RCTC shot 47.5% from the field but struggled from deep (6-of-21, 28.6%) and at the free-throw line (57.1%). Turnovers were a factor, as the Jackets committed 19 miscues compared to Northland's 16.
Northland was paced by Kmar Honore, who poured in 25 points, including six three-pointers, and Esron Simeon, who added 19 points and nine free throws. The Pioneers' ability to get to the line (22-of-30) and control the glass (38 rebounds to RCTC's 34) proved decisive.
Game 2: RCTC 85, Itasca 71 (Dec. 6)
Less than 24 hours later, the Yellowjackets bounced back in Grand Rapids with a convincing 85-71 win over Minnesota North-Itasca. This time, RCTC flipped the script, racing out to a 52-32 halftime lead behind efficient shooting and balanced scoring.
The Jackets shot a blistering 62.3% from the field and 47.4% from three-point range, showcasing their offensive depth. Five players scored in double figures, and the team dished out 18 assists on 33 made baskets.
Key Performers:
- Charlie Morning delivered a stellar performance with 21 points, six rebounds, and two assists, hitting 8-of-12 shots.
- Carson Brown matched him with 21 points of his own, going 8-of-11 from the floor and adding six assists.
- Julian Carter chipped in nine points and six rebounds, while Dominic Martinez-White added eight points and three assists.
- Off the bench, Sam Hemery provided a boost with six points on perfect shooting, and Josh Fiecke contributed five points and three rebounds.
Defensively, RCTC held Itasca to 27.3% from three and forced 10 turnovers. While Itasca shot a respectable 50.9% overall, the Jackets' early surge and depth proved too much. Itasca's Victor Estevao led all scorers with 18 points, and Dmareon Manning added 16, but the Vikings couldn't overcome RCTC's offensive firepower.
Next up, RCTC returns home looking to build momentum from Saturday's victory. The Jackets will play host to Madison College on Wednesday, before playing Hibbing and Rainy River over the weekend of the 12th and 13th.
