Thunderbirds Close Rivalry with BSC in Historic Fashion: 102-85 Win

Tribes gets conference sweep over Mystics

Thunderbirds Close Rivalry with BSC in Historic Fashion: 102-85 Win
February 4, 2025

The UTTC Thunderbirds men's basketball team ended their rivalry with Bismarck State College (BSC) in dominant fashion on Monday night at the Armory, securing a 102-85 victory that not only marked the final meeting between the two teams, but also ensured the Thunderbirds would be remembered as the last UTTC squad to defeat the Mystics on their home court.

Head coach Pete Conway had reminded his players that they had a chance to make history, and they took full advantage of it.

"We had the chance to do something historic tonight," Conway said. "We knew this was our last ever game against BSC, and we wanted to end it on the right note. They'll forever be known as the last Tribes team to beat BSC here, and that's something special."

The Thunderbirds played with urgency and energy from the start, building a 51-39 halftime lead thanks to an aggressive defensive approach. UTTC's full court pressure energy disrupted BSC's rhythm, creating turnovers and easy fast-break opportunities.

"The energy was key," Conway said. "When we turned up the pressure, guys at the top of the press were getting their hands on the ball, and that led to some easy buckets."

While BSC made a run early in the second half, cutting the deficit to 51-45 with three straight baskets, the Thunderbirds responded in a big way. A 19-5 run over the next five minutes extended their lead to 70-50, and they never looked back.

The game's turning point came when sophomore guard Jacolby Pearson caught fire from beyond the arc. After shooting 5-of-14 from three-point range in the first half, UTTC exploded for 11 made threes in the second half, with Pearson hitting six of them. He finished with 30 points, including eight made threes, to lead the Thunderbirds.

"He was incredible," Conway said of Pearson's second-half performance. "He hit some really deep ones, and he wasn't hesitating. He caught fire, and the guys were doing a great job of finding him. He moved well without the ball, filled lanes in transition, and got open looks."

UTTC's three-point shooting was nothing short of spectacular in the second half, with the team shooting 11-of-18 from beyond the arc. Conway noted that the team's unselfish play contributed to their success, as they shared the ball and fed the hot hand.

"We made 11 of 18 threes in the second half —thats just a ton and very efficient," Conway said. "Shooting is contagious when you have guys who are willing to share the ball and play together. Once one guy hits, the next guy feels it, and everyone starts clicking."
 
With 6:16 to play a Pearson three off an assist by Houston Davis gave the Thunderbirds their biggest lead of the game, 88-65.  Despite a late push from BSC, the Thunderbirds held on, securing the 102-85 win to close out their rivalry with the Mystics in style.
 
The unselfish play led to 6 players reaching double figures in the scoring column while Pearson led the way with 30, sophomore Houston Davis also had another big game finishing with 24.  Ty Moccasin finshed with 12 points and Drew Bordeaux had 11.  Despite foul trouble Mark Fassett nailed three three pointers on his way to 11 points, and Dalen Leftbear had another great all around game finishing with 10 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds.  

Looking ahead, Conway is focused on keeping the team grounded as they prepare for a tough road trip to Montana next weekend.

"Our guys have done a great job of staying even-keeled," Conway said. "We don't get too high after a win or too low after a loss. The road trip to Montana will be a challenge, but we're just focused on staying together and sticking to the process."

The Thunderbirds will travel to Montana next Sunday and Monday, where they will take on Miles Community College on Sunday at 3pm and league leading Dawson Community College on Monday at 8:30pm.