While controversy swirled around the Montana State University-Northern women's basketball team last week, it was business as usual for the men's basektball team.
Mired in a two-game losing streak, the Lights traveled to Great Falls, where in front of a capacity crowd, the Lights and Argos gave the fans a thrilling overtime game Saturday at the McLaughlin Center.
And after spoiled opportunities by both teams to end the game in regulation, Jermaine Walton took matters into his own hands with the game-winning shot as time expired in overtime.
With the 99-98 overtime win, the Lights improved to 15-11 overall on the season and 4-6 in conference play. The Argos fell to 4-24 overall and 2-8 in the conference.
UGF sophomore Andy Anderson gave the Argos a 98-97 lead with six seconds remaining in overtime, forcing the Lights to get the ball down the court and get off a quick shot to have any hopes of pulling out the win.
The quick-footed Walton drove the length of the court, blowing by three Argo players for the easy open game-winning lay-in.
The Lights gave the Argos several chances to win the game. Tied at 90 with nearly 30 seconds left in regulation play, UGF took a timeout to set up the potential game-winning play. But the play was fumbled and Bo Scott was forced to rush a shot with four seconds left on the clock.
Northern called a timeout after Scott's miss, but stayed at their bench too long as the officials began the five-second count to get the ball inbounds. Jeff Graham sprinted to get the ball inbounds, but stepped on the line, turning the ball back over to Great Falls.
Great Falls turned the ball over on the inbounds pass, but then stole the inbounds pass from the Lights. With yet another chance to win the game, the Argos missed the last-second shot, sending the game into overtime.
Walton's heroics guided him to a game-high 26 points, followed closely by Graham and Josh Hays with 25 apiece.
Scott and Dave Jensen led the Argos with 20 points each with Dustin Lym with 16, Kyle Miller with 15 and Danny Ball with 12.
The Lights are in action for their final two home games this weekend, facing Western Thursday and Montana Tech Saturday.
NORTHERN
44
46
9
99
UGF
45
45
8
98
Northern Jermaine Walton 26, Spencer Lazosky 9, Uros Mirkovic 4, Jeff Graham 25, Charlie Ereaux 4, Faheem Nelson 6, Josh Hays 25.
UGF Bo Scott 20, Danny Ball 12, Dave Jensen 20, Andy Anderson 8, Bob Samuelson 3, Dustin Lym 16, Will Butler 2, Bryan Simanton 2, Kyle Miller 15.
