RCTC Men's Basketball Secures Hard-Fought Victory Over Minnesota North College-Rainy River

Rochester, Minn. – December 13, 2025 — The Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) Yellowjackets earned a gritty 80-73 win over Minnesota North College-Rainy River in front of the home crowd on Saturday afternoon. The victory moves RCTC to an even 6-6 on the season, while Rainy River falls to 1-8.

The Yellowjackets came out strong in the first half, building a 46-40 lead behind hot shooting as the Jackets shot 57% in the half. Carson Brown led the charge early, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the floor. Brown finished with a team-high 16 points and seven rebounds, shooting 7-of-16 from the field.

In the second half, Rainy River fought back, cutting the deficit to just a few possessions behind the hot hand of Austin Howe. Howe was nearly unstoppable from beyond the arc, knocking down six three-pointers en route to a game-high 24 points. Despite Howe's efforts, RCTC maintained composure and executed down the stretch to seal the win.

Key contributions came from the Yellowjackets' bench, which provided a critical spark. Sam Hemery delivered an efficient performance, scoring 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including a perfect 5-for-5 from three-point range. His timely baskets helped RCTC weather Rainy River's late surge. Josh Fiecke added seven points and six rebounds, while Brandon Wilson chipped in six points and three boards.

Overall, RCTC shot 43.4% from the field and 38.1% from three-point range, converting eight triples on the afternoon. The Yellowjackets also shared the ball effectively, recording 23 assists as a team. Defensively, they forced 17 turnovers and collected nine steals, with Charlie Morning and Armoni Dishinger-Harris combining for six of those takeaways.

Morning contributed across the board with nine points, five assists, and three steals, while Dishinger-Harris added 12 points and three steals of his own. Tycen Vig anchored the interior with seven rebounds, complementing Brown's presence in the paint.

The win marks an important step for RCTC as the team looks to build momentum heading into conference play. 

RCTC returns to action next Wednesday with another home matchup, a non-conference game against NJCAA DII DCTC.

Final Score:
RCTC Yellowjackets 80
Minnesota North College-Rainy River 73

For more information on RCTC athletics, visit www.rctcyellowjackets.com