The Montana State University-Northern Lights scored just 29 points in the first half Saturday night in Dillon against the University of Montana-Western Bulldogs.
The 13-point halftime deficit was too much for the Lights to overcome as Western won 98-76. Western also outscored Northern 56-47 in the second half en route to the win.
Western upped its record to .500 for the season at 10-10 with the win. The Bulldogs are 3-3 in conference play. The Lights, who got off to a hot start, fell to 13-8 overall on the season and 2-3 in Frontier Conference play.
Frustrations were starting to show on the men's team Saturday as Northern freshman Jeff Graham was hit with a technical foul. The Bulldogs' Rahshi Marbury also had a technical foul and the Western bench had two.
But the Bulldogs' three technical fouls didn't seem to have much impact on the game as sharp shooting led Western to the win. Western shot 57 percent overall from the field, 58 percent from three-point range (67 percent in the second half) and 77 percent from the foul line. Northern shot 43 percent from the field, 29 percent (5 of 17) on three-point shots and 79 percent at the free-throw line.
Jermaine Walton topped all Northern's scorers with 28 points, including a perfect 16 for 16 from the free-throw line. E.J. Little with 11 and Jeff Graham with 10 followed Walton.
Neil Christiaens led all scorers with 33 points, eight rebounds and was 4 for 4 from three-point range. Randy Ranalli (18), West Hernandez (14) and Bryce Harrison (11) also scored in double digits. Ranalli and Hernandez each added eight assists.
NORTHERN
29 47
76
WESTERN
42 56
98
Northern Jermaine Walton 28, Jared Moultrie 6, E.J. Little 11, Josh Hays 8, Uros Mirkovic 5, Jeff Graham 10, K.C. Moultrie 8.
Western West Hernandez 14, Randy Ranalli 18, Bryce Harrison 11, Rahshi Marbury 2, Neil Christiaens 33, Josh Keller 6, Kevin Flatow 4, Brandon Day 2, Richard Griffin 8.
