MILES, Mont. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive runs and a decisive final-minute sequence, the Miles Community College Pioneers outlasted the Lake Region State College Royals 84-78 in a men’s junior college basketball game Sunday.

The contest, a back-and-forth affair with 10 lead changes, was ultimately decided in the final 21 seconds. With Miles clinging to an 81-78 lead, the Pioneers’ Azenio Cossa missed a jump shot but secured his own rebound and scored on a putback to extend the lead to five points with 18 seconds remaining. After a missed shot by Lake Region State on the ensuing possession, Miles’ Jace Hill was fouled and sank a free throw with six seconds left to seal the six-point victory.

The most critical phase of the game occurred in the final two minutes. Trailing 78-76, Lake Region State’s Dalen Leftbear tied the game with a 3-pointer at the 2:23 mark. Miles responded immediately, with Shad Boyce hitting a jump shot 19 seconds later to retake the lead. After a Remy Davis Warrington jumper for the Royals again tied the game at 80, Hill delivered the pivotal blow for Miles, draining a 3-pointer with 1:10 remaining to give the Pioneers an 81-80 lead they would not relinquish, initiating the closing sequence that secured the win.

Miles was led by a dominant performance from Shad Boyce, who posted a double-double with 17 points and 14 rebounds. Azenio Cossa led all scorers with 27 points and added eight rebounds. Jace Hill contributed 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Uwami Chongo added 11 points.

Lake Region State, which fell to 1-15 on the season, was paced by Akok Ajou’s double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds. Derrick Lee Jr. scored 14 points off the bench, and Warrington and Leftbear each added 13 points. Jazayah Gates scored 11 points for the Royals.

Statistically, the game was a tale of efficiency and rebounding. Miles shot 45.9 percent from the field compared to Lake Region State’s 43.5 percent. The Pioneers also held a significant advantage on the glass, outrebounding the Royals 44-37, including a 14-9 edge in offensive rebounds that led to 15 second-chance points. Both teams struggled from beyond the arc, with Miles making 7 of 23 attempts and Lake Region State hitting 8 of 31. Free throw shooting proved a key differentiator; Miles went 9 for 17 from the line, while Lake Region State was a more efficient 10 for 13.

The game featured a frenetic start, with both teams combining for six turnovers in the first two minutes before settling into an offensive rhythm. The first half was exceptionally high-scoring, with Miles taking an 84-78 lead into halftime after outscoring Lake Region State 45-43 in the second quarter. The second half tightened considerably, becoming a defensive struggle where every possession carried heightened importance leading to the dramatic finish.

The victory improved Miles’ record to 6-14 and completed a regular-season series split. The Pioneers had lost to the Royals 94-84 on Feb. 8 but defeated them by an identical 84-72 score on Jan. 18. The outcome aligned with pregame analytics, as Interstat’s ELO system had projected Miles with a 73.8 percent probability to win.