#3 Riverland Edges RCTC in Tight Conference Opener, 73-68
In a thrilling matchup at Rochester Community and Technical College on January 7, 2026, the #3-ranked Riverland Community College Blue Devils (16-1, 1-0) narrowly defeated the RCTC Yellowjackets (8-8, 0-1) by a score of 73-68 in the MCAC opener. The game was a tightly contested one throughout with neither team leading by more than 7.
First Half Battle
The opening half was a back-and-forth affair, with Riverland holding a slim 33-30 lead at the break. RCTC shot an impressive 55.4% from the field overall, but early turnovers and missed free throws kept them from taking control. Riverland countered with balanced scoring and dominance on the glass, pulling down 12 offensive rebounds in the game—seven from forward Tristan Coleman alone.
Second Half Surge
Riverland extended its lead early in the second half behind strong play from guards Tyson Helms and Isaiah Lindor. Helms filled the stat sheet with 16 points, five assists, and three steals, while Lindor matched him with 16 points and three triples. Camden Fearon provided a spark off the bench, scoring 12 points on near-perfect shooting (4-5 FG, 2-3 from deep). Despite Riverland's push, RCTC refused to fold. The Jackets trailed by only two with under a minute to play, but couldn't close the gap as Riverland knocked down six free throws in the closing minute.
The Yellowjackets leaned on sophomore Dominic Martinez-White, who delivered a flawless performance—9-for-9 from the field, including a three-pointer, for a game-high 19 points. His efficiency kept RCTC within striking distance, while Sam Hemery added 14 points and Carson Brown dished out five assists despite struggling from the floor (1-9 FG).
RCTC actually shot better from the field (55.4% vs. 46.4%) and moved the ball well with 17 assists, but 11 turnovers and foul trouble hurt their rhythm. Riverland's defensive pressure forced key mistakes late, allowing them to maintain a two-possession cushion in the closing minutes.
The Jackets will play their next "HOME" game this Saturday against St. Cloud Technical and Community College. The game will be played in the Auditorium of the Mayo Civic Center in downtown Rochester. Tip-off is set for 2:00pm. There will be free parking downtown in the Mayo Civic Center ramp.
