LEWISTON, Idaho – Being down at the half did not phase the No. 12 Lewis-Clark State Men's Basketball in its come from behind 78-71 victory over Rocky Mountain College (6-11, 1-7). With the win, LC State is now 19-1 overall and 7-1 in Frontier Conference play with a 19-game winning streak in the Activity Center.
Damek Mitchell and Jake Albright each notched double-doubles, with Mitchell leading the game with 26 points to go with 10 rebounds. Albright grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds and dropped 13 points.
"We didn't play very well on defense in the first half and we talked about that during halftime," Albright said. "We knew we had to pick it up because defense starts the offense. We slowly got it going and got back in it."
"It was a big defensive effort," Mitchell added. "Down the stretch it was just, 'Can we lock up and can we defend?' And we did that."
The Battlin' Bears exploded out of the gates to take a 19-6 lead in the first five minutes of Saturday's contest. A six-point run with baskets from Mitchell and Albright brought LC State within five (23-18) midway through, but RMC built its momentum back up to take a 47-37 lead into the locker room.
 
Back-to-back 3s from Mitchell and Josiah Westbrook, followed by back-to-back buckets from Travis Yenor and Trystan Bradley, cut the deficit to two points (52-50) five minutes into the second half. The Warriors kept it close before a pair of free throws from Albright and a basket by Bradley put the Warriors in front 60-58 at the 9:50 mark.
 
A 3-pointer by Jaxon Hughes added to the advantage, and Albright made it a five-point differential at 7:41.
 
Rocky took back the lead with under five minutes to play, but a clutch basket by Albright on an assist from Mitchell gave the Warriors back a lead they'd keep for the remainder of the game. Free throws in the final minute by Mitchell and Yenor sealed the deal in the 78-71 victory.
 
Mitchell led all scorers with 26 points, including four 3s, and finished the double-double with 10 boards. He dished out eight assists and is now just one shy of tying the all-time record set by Trea Thomas (406). Albright grabbed a game-high and career-high 14 rebounds to go with his 13 points.
 
As a team, LC State shot 45.6 percent from the field (26-for-57) and went 17-for-19 from the free throw line. Every Warrior scored in the contest.
 
"We work on free throws every day at practice, so they come second nature," Mitchell explained.
 
"Free throws win games," Albright added. "They are clutch and you have to hit them down the stretch."
 
Clayton Ladine led Rocky with 24 points including four 3-pointers. He made 10 field goals and grabbed seven rebounds, while picking up four steals and dishing out three assists. Grant Wallace tallied 15 points with seven boards.
 
The Warriors hit the road next week to take on MSU-Northern and No. 8 Providence.