(Interstat) — In a high-octane, back-and-forth affair that defied pregame projections, the Williston State Tetons outlasted the Lake Region State Royals 97-94 in a men’s junior college basketball game on Sunday, November 2, 2025.

The game was a tale of two halves, with the visiting Tetons building a substantial lead in the first quarter only to see the home-standing Royals mount a furious comeback in the second quarter. Williston State appeared to be in command early, leveraging a potent offensive attack to take a 48-39 lead after the first quarter. The second quarter, however, was a different story entirely, as Lake Region State erupted for 55 points while Williston State answered with 49, setting up a frantic final few minutes.

The contest was ultimately decided by the standout performances of Williston State’s dynamic scoring duo. Josiah McDonald delivered a monumental all-around effort, leading the Tetons with 33 points while also pulling down 13 rebounds and registering 4 blocks. His partner in the backcourt, Eden Hobbs, was equally formidable, pouring in a game-high 35 points and adding 6 rebounds. Their combined 68 points provided the offensive firepower necessary to withstand Lake Region State’s relentless second-quarter surge.

Andrew Sauer provided critical support for the Tetons, just shy of a double-double with 10 points and 9 rebounds. Carson Haerer chipped in with 8 rebounds, helping Williston State control the glass against a physical Royals squad.

Lake Region State was led by the formidable presence of Akok Ajou, who posted a double-double with 27 points and 13 rebounds. Remy Davis Warrington provided a significant scoring punch with 15 points, while Jeremiah Johnson came off the bench to contribute 13 points in just 15 minutes of play. Dalen Leftbear added 6 points and 5 rebounds in the losing effort.

The game’s closing moments were tense. After a Lake Region State timeout with 17 seconds remaining and the score 94-94, Williston State worked the ball to McDonald, who was fouled by Ajou with 12 seconds on the clock. McDonald calmly sank both free throws to put the Tetons ahead by three. The Royals had one final chance to force overtime, but Dalen Leftbear’s desperation three-point attempt as time expired missed the mark, sealing the victory for Williston State.

The win improves Williston State’s season record to 2-1 across all competitions, providing a bounce-back victory after a 104-100 loss at Miles the previous day. The loss drops Lake Region State to 0-2 to start its campaign, following a 118-90 defeat at Dawson on Saturday.

The final result was a surprise to the Interstat systems, which had projected a 100-100 tie in its game simulator and gave Lake Region State a 58.8 percent probability of winning based on its ELO rating system.

Williston State will look to build on the victory when it returns to action on Wednesday, November 19, at home against Gillette. Lake Region State, still in search of its first win, will travel to face Gillette on Friday, November 28. The two teams are scheduled to meet again on Monday, January 26, 2026, in Williston.