The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Men's Basketball team defeating NJCAA Division I Bismarck State College 78-54 on Friday evening before falling to Vermilion in overtime 92-89 on Saturday afternoon.

Vs. Bismarck State (W 78-54)

The Golden Rams put in another top defensive performance in running away from the Mystics.

Trailing 5-2 early in the game, Anoka-Ramsey went on a 14-0 run over the next four minutes to open up a double digit lead.

Bismarck cut the deficit to 18-15 with 10:51 left in the half, but a layup from Falmata Tula kick started another Golden Ram run.

Following Tula's layup, Mahad Haji knocked down three-point field goals on four of the next five Golden Ram possessions to push the lead to 32-17.

A Josh Jackson layup, a breakaway dunk from Tula, and a fifth three-pointer from Haji extended the lead to 39-20 with 6:04 to play.

But Anoka-Ramsey would fail to score the rest of the period, as Bismarck made a late 9-0 run to pull within ten at the break, 39-29.

Bismarck shot just 27.5 percent in the half to 45.2 percent for Anoka-Ramsey.

Haji went 5 of 5 from the three-point line in the period to lead with 15 points.

Still leading by ten with 14:56 to play, the Golden Rams slowly pulled away over the next ten minutes, building a 68-50 lead at the 4:32 mark before finishing with the 24-point win.

Anoka-Ramsey held Bismarck to just 30.1 percent shooting overall including 20.8 percent from the three-point line.

The Golden Rams finished at 46.9 percent shooting knocking down 10 of 28 three-point attempts (35.7 percent).

Despite the low shooting percentage, the Mystics managed just one offensive rebound in the second half as Anoka-Ramsey held a 45-31 edge on the glass.

Haji poured in a career-high 24 points on 9 of 12 shooting and 6 of 9 from the three-point line to go with five rebounds.

Mamadou Ngom and Tula both scored 13 points.

Brandon Hixson chipped in eight points on 4 of 7 shooting to go with eight rebounds.

Vs. Vermilion (L 92-89 OT)

Anoka-Ramsey looked poised for a weekend sweep building an 18-8 lead on the Ironmen early in the game.

The lead extended to 26-10 following a three-pointer from Mahad Haji and it appeared Anoka-Ramsey would get another easy win leading 43-31 at the break.

But Vermilion would open the second half on an 11-0 run to pull within one.

The Golden Rams rebuilt their lead, using a 19-6 run to go back up by 14 at 62-48 with 11:34 to play.

Vermilion mounted their own run, cutting the deficit to four at 66-62.

A three-pointer from Haji and two free throws from Tula gave Anoka-Ramsey a 71-62 lead with 6:58 to play.

From there the defense would falter.

Vermilion went on another run, this time 12-3 to knot the score at 74 with 2:28 left.

A Collin Price three-pointer gave the Golden Rams the lead again.

Following a Vermilion layup, Tula would score to keep the three-point lead.

Vermilion cut it to one on their next possession and Mamadou Ngom was fouled with 13 seconds to play.

Ngom made one of two free throws for a two point lead, but a Golden Ram foul on the next possession put Vermilion at the line where they made both free throws with four seconds left to send the game to overtime.

The teams traded leads in the overtime period, with Vermilion going ahead 88-87 on a three-point play.

Price missed a three-pointer on the next possession, and Vermilion would connect on a three of their own to take a four point lead.

A layup from Edvonte Copeland cut the deficit to two, 91-89 and Vermilion would commit a turnover on their next possession giving Anoka-Ramsey one final chance.

Following a timeout, the Golden Rams got a clean look from the three-point line, but missed just short and were forced to foul Vermilion.  The Ironmen made one of two free throws and the last second desperation heave was off line for the Golden Rams.

The Golden Rams finished at 46.9 percent shooting including making 14 of 34 three-point attempts.

Vermilion shot 53.5 percent for the game which included a staggering 64.5 percent in the second half to complete the comeback.

Haji led the Golden Rams again with 21 points making 5 of 8 three-pointers.

Price finished with 20 points knocking down six threes.

Tula and Ngom each had 12 points, and Copeland finished with 11.

The Golden Rams enter the holiday break at 6-5 overall.