(Williston, ND) The Pioneers traveled to Williston, ND on Thursday, February 28 to take on the the Royals of Lake Region State College in the first round of the Region XIII tournament. The winner of this game would advance to the Region XIII semifinal game and the loser's season would come to an end.

The first half of play was close, with the Pioneers finding themselves on top most of the half and taking a slight 37-36 lead into the locker room. After 6 ties and 8 lead changes, the Royals had a little more to give down the stretch.  Despite the Pioneers best efforts to pull the game back at the end, the Pioneers fell to the Royals, 74-80.  This game marked the end of the 2018-19 Pioneer season.  MCC ends the season with a 13-18 record.

DA Wyche was the leading scorer, with 23.  Gedeon Buzangu added 16, despite fouling out with 7:38 to play in the game.  Deondre Northey contributed 13 to the effort.  AK Kuany led the Pioneers in rebounds with five.  Wyche had three assists to lead the team.

Coach Chase Tait commented on the season, "I feel like it was an unfortunate ending for a good group of guys that fought hard all year long.  We just couldn't seem to get over the hump.  I feel bad how it ended tonight, we just couldn't catch a break.  I think our program is in a better place this year than it was last year.  We have a good group of young men that bought into what we were trying to do here.  We will lose 3 sophomores, but we have 8 returners that will come back and try to put together a more successful season next year."