The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Men’s Golden Rams Basketball team swept their two road games last weekend, Dec. 11-12, defeating Hibbing Community College 81-72 on Friday, and Rainy River Community College 102-89 on Saturday.

It was a defensive struggle in the first half versus Hibbing. The Golden Rams only managed to shoot 32.6 percent including a dismal 2-14 from the three-point line. Solid defense enabled Anoka-Ramsey to keep the game in control and a late surge pushed the Golden Rams to a 36-31 halftime lead. The Golden Rams held Hibbing to 35.7 percent shooting, including a 1-6 effort from the three-point line in the first half.

The offense improved for both teams in the second half with the key difference being Anoka-Ramsey’s ability to knock down three’s as well as getting to the free throw line where the Golden Rams finished the game shooting 16-21.  Anoka-Ramsey was able to hold off a late Hibbing run and come away with the 81-72 win.

Kenan Kent led Anoka-Ramsey with his fourth double-double of the season (21 points, 12 rebounds).  Quincy Bethea Jr. (16 points), Trey Scott (13 points), and Mohamed Camara (12 points, 8 rebounds) rounded out the double figure scoring.

The Golden Rams traveled to International Falls, Minn. Saturday to face Rainy River and came away with a 102-89 victory. Offense was the story of the day as the first half saw impressive performances by both teams. Anoka-Ramsey shot 54.5 percent (18-33) in the opening half including 5-11 from the three-point line.  Rainy River countered with 46.7 percent shooting (21-45) which was bolstered by 16 first-half offensive rebounds. Trey Scott scored 17 points in the opening period for Anoka-Ramsey though the team trailed 48-47 at the break.

A renewed defensive effort in the second half by Anoka-Ramsey, combined with more hot shooting, allowed the Golden Rams to outscore Rainy River 55-41 in the second half to pull out the 102-89 win. 

Anoka-Ramsey finished the game shooting 47.9 percent from the field (35-73), 39.4 percent from the three-point line (13-33), and 76 percent from the free-throw line (19-25).  They also held Rainy River to 3-18 from the three-point line, 0-9 in the second half, to preserve the win.

Anoka-Ramsey was led by Scott’s season-high 28 points on 11-19 shooting including four made three-point shots.  Scott also had five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Bethea Jr. chipped in with 15 points and six rebounds, Ben Snyder scored 14 points making four three-point shots, Max Wessel recorded 13 points and eight rebounds, and Kent scored 12 points to go along with seven rebounds.

The Golden Rams are now 5-6 on the season.

Anoka-Ramsey will finish the first semester of play at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College Holiday Classic Dec. 18-19.  They face Bismarck State College at Dec. 18 at 6 p.m., and Vermilion Community College, Dec. 19 at 1p.m. Both games will be played at the MCTC Gymnasium.