The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Men's Basketball team once again survived an overtime contest, defeating Riverland Community College 78-71 on Wednesday evening.

This was the second straight overtime game, and fifth of the season, for the Golden Rams, including three in conference play.  Anoka-Ramsey is 3-2 in overtime games this season, winning their last three.

Early on it appeared as though overtime would not be needed as the Golden Rams opened up an 11 point lead with 8:11 left in the first half.

A jumper by Mahad Haji would extend the lead to 30-17 with six minutes remaining, followed by a three-pointer from Collin Price to push the Golden Rams ahead 33-17.

Riverland would cut the deficit to 11 with 1:46 to play in the period and Anoka-Ramsey would enter the break with a 37-24 lead.

The Golden Rams were a perfect 11 of 11 from the free throw line in the first half, while Riverland failed to attempt a single shot from the charity stripe.

Riverland pulled within nine early in the second half, but consecutive layups from Haji and Edvonte Copeland put Anoka-Ramsey ahead by 13 with 17 minutes left.

Another Copeland layup extended the lead to 14 with 16 minutes to play.

Riverland used a 5-0 spurt to pull back within nine with 12:30 left to play.

A free throw from Tyler Matsen gave Anoka-Ramsey a 51-40 lead with 9:24 left before Riverland would make a run.

A three-pointer and consecutive layups would get Riverland within 51-47.

Anoka-Ramsey would take an eight point lead, 61-53 after another Copeland layup with 2:49 left, but Riverland would rattle off eight straight points in the next minute and a half to tie the score at 61 with 1:24 to play.

Anoka-Ramsey would fail to score on the ensuing possession, and Riverland committed a turnover on the other end setting up a final chance for the Golden Rams with 13 seconds remaining.

Falmata Tula was fouled with seven seconds left in regulation and would make both free throws for a two point advantage.

A driving layup from Riverland just before the buzzer would send the game into overtime.

Anoka-Ramsey opened the overtime period with a three-pointer from Collin Price, and a layup from Mamadou Ngom to go ahead by five.

Riverland fought back to tie the score at 71 apiece with 1:56 to play.

Copeland completed a three-point play to give the Golden Rams the lead for good with 1:38 left, and Riverland would fail to score again as they missed four free throws in the last minute of play.

The Golden Rams shot just 37.1 percent from the field and made just 4 of 23 from the three-point line.

Anoka-Ramsey held a 22-4 edge in made free throws which proved to be the difference in the game.

Price led the Golden Rams with 18 points making 4 of 8 from the three-point line.

Tula finished with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Copeland scored 12 points.

Ngom chipped in ten points, seven rebounds, and five steals.

The Golden Rams improve to 12-8 overall, 4-3 in the MCAC Southern Division.

Anoka-Ramsey will start the second half of Southern Division play on Saturday when they travel to Fergus Falls to take on M|State.  In the first matchup, the Golden Rams held on for a double overtime victory in Coon Rapids.