GILLETTE, Wyo. — Despite a fourth-quarter surge and a trio of standout performances, the Williston State College men's basketball team came up just short Wednesday night, falling 88–76 to Gillette College in a wire-to-wire battle defined by shooting swings and timely Clippers scoring.

Williston State (76 points on 35.7% shooting) struggled to find consistency from the field, and while the Tetons matched Gillette on the glass and hit 13 threes, the Clippers' efficiency inside — shooting 50.7% overall — proved to be the difference.

Tetons' Trio Leads the Charge

Josiah McDonald delivered a team-high 19 points, hitting four threes and adding six rebounds and three assists across a heavy 38-minute workload. He attacked late in the second half as Williston State attempted to claw back, but Gillette had an answer each time.

Eden Hobbs was equally vital, pouring in 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting while knocking down two threes. Carson Haerer recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, giving the Tetons steady interior presence and second-chance opportunities.

Williston State also saw strong contributions from its bench, especially from Charlie McKenna (9 points, 2 threes) and Bridger Johnson (6 points in 10 minutes).

McCormick Dominates for Gillette

The Tetons had no answer for Gillette's Rashad McCormick, who put together a commanding 25-point, 9-rebound performance on 12-of-17 shooting. Whether at the rim or in the midrange, McCormick powered the Clippers' offense and delivered crucial baskets when Williston State threatened late.

Gillette (78 points on 50.7% shooting) spread the ball well with 15 assists and saw additional double-figure scoring from Sayed Sayed (15 points) and Jaden Smith (14 points). The Clippers' defense also came up big, forcing 22 Williston State turnovers.

Key Stats Tell the Story

• Turnovers: Williston State 22, Gillette 27
  Despite gaining extra possessions, the Tetons couldn't cash in consistently enough.

• Three-Point Shooting: WSC 13-of-39 (33.3%), Gillette 3-of-18 (16.7%)
  Williston's long-range shooting kept them alive, but Gillette offset the disparity with superior inside scoring.

• Free Throws: WSC 13-of-20, Gillette 5-of-13
  Missed free throws on both sides prevented either team from fully capitalizing in crunch time.

Late Push Falls Short

Trailing by multiple possessions late, Williston State leaned on McDonald and Hobbs to narrow the gap. A pair of timely threes cut the deficit to a single possession, but the Clippers secured high-pressure rebounds and closed the game at the line and in transition.