By Tiffany L. Rehbein
After four straight victories, the MSU-Northern Lights mens basketball team lost its first game 117-107 to the Sons of Blue Angels at the Northern gymnasium Tuesday night.
In front of about 1,300 people, the Blue Angels got on the scoreboard first on a free throw by Dave Mott.
The Blue Angels, a Christian-based group of ex-college basketball players, travel throughout the western United States to give teams a test-game in the preseason.
A loss to the Blue Angels does not count against a team.
Mott finished with 24 points in the matchup.
The Lights Mel Stubblefield put the Lights on the scoreboard with a 3-pointer after more than two minutes into the game.
Stubblefield had 16 points in the game.
The Blue Angels, who were up 52-50 at halftime, used their height to overpower the Lights.
The ability to see downcourt diffused the Lights scrappy full-court press, and the Blue Angels height posed a problem defensively for the Lights.
Bruce Stacy nailed six 3-pointers in the game and scored a team-high 26 points.
James Washington, who played in only the second half, matched those numbers with 26 points in the game. His fresh, rested legs boosted the Blue Angels in the second half en route to the victory.
The Lights, who have used powerful perimeter shooting so far this season, hit 16 3-pointers in the contest.
Free throws have also been a strength for Northern. They went 23-of-29 from the stripe, while the Blue Angels connected on only 29-of-42.
Keith Carothers hit 9-for-12 and tallied 18 points for the Lights.
Chad Meyer chipped in 20 points and Russell Keller added 10 in the effort.
For as tall as the Blue Angels were, the Lights outrebounded them 26-12 offensively, and notched 21 second-chance points in the game.
The Lights next host the Townhouse Invitational Nov. 19-20 at the Northern gymnasium.
