The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Men's Basketball team dropped their second straight MCAC Southern Division game, falling 81-76 to Minnesota West on Wednesday evening.
The Golden Rams shooting woes continued as they managed just 38.1 percent from the floor, their second straight night shooting less than 40 percent, and the only two times they have failed to crack 40 percent this season.
To compound the offensive struggles, the Golden Rams also allowed Minnesota West to connect on 50.8 percent of their field goals including 64.3 percent in the second half.
After opening a 19-8 lead after a Mamadou Ngom three-pointer, Anoka-Ramsey allowed a 7-0 run as Minnesota West pulled within four.
Following another Ngom field goal, the Blue Jays scored the next five points to get within 21-20 and eventually take a 26-25 lead.
Trailing 30-27 with 2:39 left in the half, Mahad Haji would connect on two three-pointers around a Harley Shear field goal and Anoka-Ramsey would lead 35-32 at the break.
Minnesota West opened the second half with a field goal and after two Brandon Hixson free throws the Golden Ram lead would be 37-34. But the Blue Jays would use a 12-0 run to take a 46-37 lead just four minutes into the half.
Minnesota West pushed the lead to 12 at 52-40 with 15 minutes to play.
Anoka-Ramsey used a 8-0 spurt highlighted by back-to-back threes from Haji to pull back within four.
The deficit would fluctuate between four and six points for most of the half before Minnesota West took a 72-64 lead with four minutes to play.
Three Golden Ram free throws trimmed the deficit to five, and Anoka-Ramsey would pull within two with 1:30 left.
The deficit would stay at two points but following a Blue Jay turnover the Golden Rams would have a chance at the lead or tie with under 20 seconds to play. But a missed shot in the lane and a jump ball would give possesion back to Minnesota West where they would seal the game at the line.
Haji finished with 22 points making 7 of 11 from the three-point line to go with seven rebounds.
Ngom finished with 13 poitns and seven rebounds.
Shear came off the bench to chip in with ten points on 4 of 7 shooting.
The Golden Rams fall to 9-7 overall, 1-2 in the MCAC.
League-leading Rochester comes to town on Saturday, January 16 for a 3pm tip in the Anoka-Ramsey Performance Gym.