ROCHESTER -- When the Minnesota West Bluejays men's basketball team needed a stop or a key rebound late Saturday against Rochester, the Yellowjackets did just enough to thwart the Bluejays' hopes.
Joey Kollar scored 18 points and Rochester held a plus-11 advantage on the boards, leading the Yellowjackets to a 72-65 victory, dropping Minnesota West's record to 11-13.
Cory Lott added 13 points and Sean Clarke followed with 10 for the Yellowjackets.
Minnesota West was led by Tut Yual, who picked up 25 points and nine rebounds. Slowed by injuries at the start of the season, Yual is about where Bluejays head coach Justin Heckenlaible said he thought he'd be at this point in the season.
"He was behind everyone because of his start," Heckenlaible said. "He's played well on both ends."
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Minnesota West travels to Riverland on Wednesday.
MW 33 32 -- 65
Rochester 36 36 -- 72
MW (3FG-2FG-FT-TP): Archie 0-1-0-2, Jackson 1-1-0-5, Barlowe 0-1-0-2, Bardney 0-2-1-5, Yual 1-10-2-25, Nelson 0-1-0-2, Griese 2-1-0-8, Sudar 0-1-2-4, Mendez 0-1-1-3, Riley 0-4-1-9. Totals: 4-23-7-65.
Rochester (3FG-2FG-FT-TP): Gangelhoff 0-3-1-7, Schernecker 1-2-1-8, Clarke 0-3-4-10, Blood 0-0-1-1, Lott 1-3-4-13, Ryan 0-4-1-9, Sather 0-3-0-6, Kollar 0-7-4-18. Totals: 2-25-16-72.
Women
Rochester 62, MW 61
Rochester's Rebekah Fitzgerald finished converted a layup with 3.9 seconds left, and the Yellowjackets rallied from down 11 points with 14 minutes left to defeat the Lady Jays.
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"We played very well," Minnesota West head coach Mike Fury said. "We just didn't take care of business at the end."
Minnesota West did have its chances to put the game away late, but a turnover and three missed free throws in the final two minutes helped seal the team's fate.
Fitzgerald's last basket capped off a 21-point performance, tops for the Yellowjackets. She was followed Brittany Gladis, who tallied 15.
Minnesota West was led by Krista Beek, who scored a game-high 21 points, and Amanda Nash, who hit five 3-point baskets, on her way to 15 points on the night.
Minnesota West (3-5, 10-14) can still clinch a spot in the MCCC tournament with a victory against Riverland on Wednesday, or a Fergus Falls loss.
MW 28 33 -- 61
Rochester 23 39 -- 62
MW (3FG-2FG-FT-TP): Brame 0-2-0-4, Nash 5-0-0-15, Dekker 0-4-0-8, Williams 0-1-4-6, Bents 0-2-2-6, Beek 1-5-9-22. Totals: 6-14-15-61.
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Rochester (3FG-2FG-FT-TP): Jajowka 0-1-0-2, Linbo 0-1-3-5, Tews 0-1-3-5, Maggert 1-1-0-5, Schlicker 0-2-0-4, O'Leary 1-2-1-7, Fitzgerald 0-8-5-21, Gladis 2-4-1-15. Totals: 3-21-11-62.
