Chandler, AZ - The Hope International University men's basketball team (8-4) dropped their last game of the Cactus Classic as they fell 74-69 to the Rocky Mountain Battlin' Bears on Monday afternoon in Chandler, AZ.

The Royals took an early 5-3 advantage but the Bears quickly used a 7-0 run to take a 10-5 lead. The Royals would get back within 10-9 on a jumper by Sebastian Castro but it was the Bears who took over from there as they went on a 15-1 run to take a 26-11 advantage midway through the first. The Royals were able to pull back within 30-17 on a Gaven Ramirez layup with 6:25 to go but the Bears had all the answers as the Royals trailed 43-28 at halftime.

The Royals regrouped at halftime and came out of the gates in the second half strong as they opened on an 11-0 run led by five points from Jalani Horn to make it 43-39 with 16:46 to go. The Bears responded well though as they pulled back out to a 53-43 lead with 13:04 remaining. The Royals continued to battle as they came back to tie the game 60-60 on a huge three from Charles Neal with 5:51 to go. The Royals though were unable to get the go ahead basket as the Bears once again retook the lead 65-60. The Royals were able to get back within one at 65-64 on a Tristan Williams layup but that's as close as they would get as they fell 74-67. Neal led the Royals with 20 points.

The Royals return home to play Thompson Rivers University on Tuesday, December 20 at 12:00 PM in the Darling Pavilion in Fullerton, CA.