The Anoka-Ramsey Community College Men's Basketball team couldn't overcome the hot three-point shooting of North Dakota State College of Science on Saturday evening, falling 97-80 to drop to 1-3 on the season.

The NJCAA Division I Wildcats shot a blistering 13 of 23 from the three-point line (56.5 percent) for the game, and made 32 of 52 shots overall (61.5 percent).

The Golden Rams fought throughout the first half to keep pace with NDSCS and lead 34-33 after two free throws from Tyler Matsen with 5:47 to play in the period.

After a NDSCS three-pointer made it 36-34 Wildcats, Mahad Haji connected on a field goal to tie the score for the eighth time in the half.

The Wildcats took a 41-36 lead, but two free throws from Josh Jackson, a free throw from Dennis Ongwae, and a three-pointer from Falmata Tula would cap a 6-0 Golden Ram run to take a 42-41 lead with 2:07 to play.

But once again NDSCS would respond, and again it would be from the three-point line as Konner Goettsche knocked down his sixth three of the half to regain the lead.

NDSCS would outscore Anoka-Ramsey 9-1 over the final two minutes and take a 50-43 lead into the break.

A slow start to the second half doomed Anoka-Ramsey as NDSCS scored the first eight points to take a 15 point lead and the Golden Rams never recovered, falling behind by as many as 24 points and never getting closer than 14 the rest of the way.

Anoka-Ramsey shot 42.6 percent overall including 8 of 19 (42.1 percent) from the three-point line.

The Golden Rams also made 26 of 36 free throws on the night (72.2 percent).

Tula lead the scoring with 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting in his first start.

Three Golden Rams recorded double-digits in points off the bench with Tyler Matsen and Raol Rose each scoring 11, and Haji chipping in ten.

Anoka-Ramsey will once again be on the road for their next game, taking on Dakota County Technical College on Wednesday, November 18 at 7:00pm.  The game will be played on the campus of Inver Hills Community College.