The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Men's Basketball team escaped with an 80-79 win in double overtime over M|State Fergus Falls on Wednesday evening in their opening game of conference play.

Collin Price started the game with back-to-back three-pointers and after threes from Edvonte Copeland and Tyler Matsen it looked as though the Golden Rams would continue their hot shooting from the previous weekend.

But things cooled off from there and the Spartans repeatedly found cracks in the Golden Ram defense to stay within striking distance.

A layup from Josh Jackson pushed the lead to 20-12 but a five point spurt from Fergus Falls cut the deficit to just three with 7:18 to play in the half.

Another three from Price, and a layup from Mahad Haji pushed the lead back up to eight, but the Spartans responded again to tie the score at 25 apiece.

The teams traded three-pointers and the Golden Rams closed the half on a 6-0 run to take a 34-28 lead into the break.

Anoka-Ramsey held a 38-33 lead when the Spartans again started to chip away at the deficit, eventually pulling within 48-47 at the 8:51 mark.

The Golden Rams rebuilt the lead to seven, 58-51 following a Copeland layup but Fergus Falls responded with a three-pointer, two free throws, and another three to take a 59-58 lead with 2:08 to play.

Price would knock down another three to retake the lead, but the Spartans tied the game with a layup on the other end and neither team would score in the last couple possessions sending the game to the first overtime.

In the first extra period, the Spartans jumped out to a 67-61 lead before Haji drained a three pointer to pull within three.

Following two Spartan free throws, Price would once again connect from long range pulling the Golden Rams within two, 69-67 with 30 seconds left.

Anoka-Ramsey would force a turnover by pressing on the next Spartan possession, but the Golden Rams turned the ball over themselves, only to have Fergus Falls lose possession on their end of the court, giving Price a breakaway layup to tie the score at 69 apiece with 17 seconds left.

Fergus Falls failed to score on their last possession, and a desperation runner from 30 feet by Copeland fell short, and the game headed to a second overtime.

Fergus Falls once again struck first in the second overtime, and led 79-75 with 49 seconds to play.

Haji knocked down another three to pull within one, 79-78, with 30 seconds left and the Spartans would miss two free throws with 17 seconds to play setting up the dramatic final seconds.

On the ensuing possession, the Spartans would knock the ball out of bounds underneath the Golden Ram basket with five seconds left.

Following a timeout, Copeland found Caleb Garrigan on the right elbow for a jumper that connected with 0.2 to play and the Spartans couldn't get a shot off and the Golden Rams escaped with the win.

Anoka-Ramsey shot 44 percent overall and 13 of 43 (30.2 percent) from the three-point line.

Price finished with 23 points making 7 of 11 from the three-point line.

Garrigan scored ten points off the bench.

The Golden Rams improve to 9-5 on the season (1-0 MCAC) and will host St. Cloud Tech on Saturday at 3:00pm.