BILLINGS, Mont. – Argo men's basketball denies a second-half rally from the No. 14 Rocky Mountain Battlin' Bears to claim the 93-89 upset victory on Saturday.
 
Five Argos scored double-digits during Friday's win. Brandon Cotton and Jalen Shepard both led the way with 20 points each. Shepard earned a double-double as he added 10 assists, three steals, and a rebound. Austin Starr followed with 19 points in the win, in addition to six boards and three assists. D'shea Williams flirted with a double-double as he knocked down 15 points, while also pulling down eight boards in the win.
 
The Argos got on the scoreboard first from a Starr three, but the Battlin' Bears responded with five before the Argos would tie things up. Both teams would notch eight points apiece to sit tied at 13 following five minutes of play. A free throw from D'shea Williams sparked a 7-0 Argo run to take a 20-13 lead. Rocky would slowly diminish the lead as they would eventually bring things back to a standstill at 25 and 27. Two Argo free throws and a Rocky field goal would knot things back up at 29. The Argos would take the lead following a free throw to score 11-straight to take a double-digit lead, 41-30. The Argos maintained the advantage at the break as the Battlin' Bears were only able to get two back on a 13-11 run to head to the locker room.
 
Rocky began the final 20 minutes on a 20-10 run to close the gap and take the 15-minute mark of the second half. A three from Starr and a Battlin' Bears jumper would tie things once again at 65 all. Jacob Wetzel nailed a three to put the Argos back on top again as they would lead for nearly five minutes of clock before a Rocky three would knot things up for the last time at 80. Rocky went on a 5-2 run to take a three-point advantage, but a layup from Williams and a clutch three from Starr gave the Argos a two-point advantage with three minutes remaining, 87-85. The Argos would outscore the Battlin' Bears over the last three minutes of play, 6-2, as they sealed the 93-89 victory.
 
Up Next
The Argos return to the McLaughlin Center as they will host the University of Alberta-Augustana for the final home match of 2018 on December 7 at 7:30 p.m.