The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Men's Basketball team went on the road and defeated Ridgewater College 89-81 on Saturday afternoon to clinch the MCAC Southern Division outright and earn the #1 seed in the Region XIII tournament March 3-5.
The Warriors, needing a win to make the post-season tournament, came out firing knocking down their first five three-point attempts, but the Golden Rams kept answering as Ridgewater only led 19-18 despite the hot start.
The Warriors took a three-point lead with 11:48 left in the first half before a five point spurt from Anoka-Ramsey gave the Golden Rams a 23-21 lead.
The teams continued to trade baskets with six ties and six lead changes over the next seven minutes.
Anoka-Ramsey led 38-37 with 2:25 left in the half before two Kevin Schramm free throws, a field goal from Edvonte Copeland, and a shot by Mamadou Ngom ended the half with a 6-0 run to lead 44-37.
The Golden Rams took a 48-40 lead early in the second half before Ridgewater began to chip away.
A 12-5 Ridgewater run turned a six point deficit into a one point lead, 56-55 with 12:43 left and teams were all tied at 68 apiece with 7:08 to play.
From there a 7-0 Golden Ram run began with a Harley Shear layup, and five straight points from Ramose Riddley.
After a Ridgewater field goal, Ngom and Shear would score on consecutive possesions and Anoka-Ramsey would lead 79-70 with five minutes left.
Ridgewater pulled within six points with a minute to play but the Golden Rams held off any last rally by making seven of their final eight free throw attempts to pull out the win.
Anoka-Ramsey tied a season-low with only five made threes, but pulled in 13 offensive rebounds and tied a season-low with just four turnovers.
Ngom finished with 18 points and six rebounds.
Riddley scored a career-high 15 points and grabbed eight boards, four on the offensive end.
Schramm finished with 13 points.
Shear and Malik Williams each had nine points.
Anoka-Ramsey finishes the regular season 24-3 overall, 12-2 in the MCAC Southern Division.
The Golden Rams will host the Region XIII playoffs March 3-5, and will play the #4 seed from the Northern Division Rainy River at 4:00pm Friday, March 3.