The Riverland men’s basketball team opened its season on a strong note as it beat Western Wisconsin Tech 74-64 Friday and it topped Madison Tech. 53-50 Saturday at the Minnesota West Classic in Worthington.

The Blue Devils (2-0 overall) were undersized in both games, but they made up for it with their hustle and defense.

“Madison Tech had a good big guy, but we were squeezing, pinching and doing everything we could do to stop him,” RCC interim head coach Scott Koenigs said. “We played with intensity.”

Madison Tech led by five with five minutes left in the game, but the Blue Devils rallied behind guard Taylor Morgan, who poured in 21 of his 23 points in the second half. Morgan hit a three with 3:30 left to put RCC up one and then he scored again to put his team up three.

“Taylor hit some huge shots for us and Jeff Clark-Neal did so many things on defense. He’s a heady, smart guy,” Koenigs said.

Zach Bunch, a freshman from Kenosha, Wis., scored 25 points and Morgan added 17 in the win over WWT.

RCC 74, WWT 64

RCC scoring: Zach Bunch, 25; Taylor Morgan, 17; Andrew Kaiser, 12; Wayne Canady, 8; Marcus Ratliff, 6; Jeff Clark-Neal, 5; Shane Barry, 1

RCC 53, Madison Tech. 50

RCC scoring: Morgan, 23; Bunch, 12; Ratliff, 11; Thames, 4; Canaday, 3