2014-15 MSU-N Basketball Preview: New-look Lights have familiar goals

For the last four seasons in a row, and five out of the last six, the Montana State University-Northern men’s basketball team has been a fixture at the NAIA national men’s basketball tournament.

Put another way, the Lights, under the guidance of veteran head coach Shawn Huse, have been the model of consistency when it comes to Frontier Conference basketball. Northern has won 20 more games eight straight times, and in addition to their continued trips to Kansas City for the national tournament, the Lights have finished in the top four or better in the final Frontier Conference standings nine straight times.

With a brand new season of MSU-N basketball about to begin, it’s business as usual for the Lights, who went 23-9 in 2013-14, finished second in the Frontier with an 11-5 record and reached the Frontier semifinals for the eighth straight time. The Lights’ season ended with a 71-63 loss to Freed-Hardeman in the first round of the national tournament.

But Northern’s season also ended with heavy losses to graduation, and though expectations are once again high in Havre this year, MSU-N must replace its entire backcourt, led by Alfie Miller, Roshawn West and Alan Brown, as well as forward Will Perry, who was as tenacious as they come in the paint.

“The nice thing is, we do have eight guys returning who have been in our program,” Huse said. “Those guys know how things work, they’ve all played in a lot of big games, and they’ve been through the things we’re about to go through. So that’s made practices go really well so far, and I think it’s helped the new guys out a lot.

“So while we are going to be a new team, a different team,” he continued. “We do have a lot of veteran guys and those guys have shown great leadership, and I think that’s going to help us grow together a lot faster. We have a lot of great leadership on this team, and that’s huge for us.”

And Northern will have a new look this season, but with some very familiar faces leading the way. While the Lights lost nearly 35 points per game in production between Miller, West and Perry, they do return two key seniors, both of whom have been shining bright for years.

Corbin Pearson (6-6) returns for his final campaign in a Lights’ uniform. Already, a two-time All-Conference performer, Pearson blossomed last season, averaging 13 points and six rebounds per contest. In conference play, Pearson has also always been at his very best. Over the course of the last two seasons, Pearson has averaged 15 points and eight rebounds per game in Frontier Conference games, and his play in February has always been critical to the Lights’ success.

Fellow senior Jesse Vaughan (6-5) is also back to start for a third straight season. Vaughan averaged eight points and four rebounds per outing a year ago, and together, he and Pearson give the Lights two dynamic and versatile forwards, and a wealth of experience, knowledge and leadership.

“Those are two guys who have started a combined 70 games in their careers,” Huse said. “They’ve been on three different national tournament teams, and they have played in so many big, big games. They have already done a tremendous amount for this program, and we’re going to really lean on them this season. We’re very fortunate to have two returning seniors like Corbin and Jesse.”

In all, the Lights return eight players who either suited up or red-shirted in the program a season ago. Seniors Nick Blount (6-2) and Damian Robinson (6-3) return and should have a big impact for the Lights this season. Blount came on strong at the end of last season, and was the Lights’ leading scorer at the national tournament, while Robinson was sidelined with injuries for much of last year, but his role will be critical to the Lights this season.

Also back for Northern is junior Pat Jensen (6-7). He’s Northern’s tallest player, and while his playing time has been limited the last two seasons, he figures to play a more prominent role this year. Anfernee Standing Rock (6-5), and red-shirt freshmen Dylan Tatarka (6-3) and Brett Thompson (6-3) will also see action for the Lights this coming season.

“Nick Blount is a guy who really gave us some great minutes last year, especially down the stretch,” Huse said. “And with a year under his belt, I think he’s going to have a great season. Damian just never got a chance to get going last year. And when he did, he got injured. So with him healthy, he’s going to be a big factor for us this season. And I think Dylan (Tatarka) and Brett (Thompson) are two guys that could see some floor time. They both had a really solid red-shirt year, and they have improved a lot.

“So we do have some experienced guys back,” Huse continued. “And that’s nice to have that because we also do have some newcomers, so it’s good to have the leadership we have to help those guys get acclimated with our program.”

Northern does have newcomers, and they are a talented bunch. Point guard Trevail Lee (5-9) will have an immediate impact for MSU-N, on both ends of the floor. Add in a pair of dangerous shooting guards in Warren Edmonson (6-2) and Jermaine Graves (6-1) and the Lights have all of the makings of an extremely explosive backcourt.

“Those three guys bring a lot to the table, and they will have an immediate impact,” Huse said. “They bring quickness, shooting and defense to our backcourt. And they have the potential to be as good a group of newcomers as you’ll find at this level.”

The Lights also brought in 6-6 forward K.J. Rech, as well as 6-6 forward Nikola Ivanovic to go with freshman recruit Kevin Oberwesier of Drummond to round out the roster.

So, the Lights have a good mix of returning veterans and stars to go with a talented crop of new players, and as that mix comes together, Northern will strive and aspire to be what it’s always been under Huse, a team that plays unselfish, hard-nosed basketball and a team that’s built to win Frontier Conference basketball games.

Northern will once again hang its hat on defense after the Lights have led the conference in scoring and field goal defense in each of the last three seasons. A year ago, MSU-N allowed just 58 points per game, which was tops in the Frontier and fourth in the country. Offensively, the Lights will continue to be a controlled and ball-sharing offense, where the premium is on the best shot available in each possession, no matter where on the floor that shot is. Northern has consistently been one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the Frontier in Huse’s tenure and with the addition of some stellar new guards, and both Pearson and Vaughan being able to step out and knock down the lone-range shot, that should again be a strength for the Lights this winter.

“I think you have to play to your strengths,” Huse said. “And I already know this team will play hard and play smart every night. Defense has been our trademark, and it will continue to be. And we will also continue to be a smart and controlled offensive team in the half court. We want to play unselfish basketball offensively and make sure we find the open man. That’s something we’ve done well in the past, and I think this team will do well this year.

“But, at the same time, we have other strengths and we will play to those as well,” he continued. “I think we have a lot of quickness on this team, and guys who can get up and down the floor and finish. So we want to make sure we turn long rebounds and long steals into transition baskets when we get those opportunities. But as a whole, this team will play traditional, Northern basketball. They’ll play hard for 40 minutes every night, they’ll get after it on defense and they’ll give a great effort at both ends of the floor every game. That’s been what Northern basketball is all about, I feel this team certainly has those same traits.”

Of course, with all of the talent and experience the Lights have, there’s no doubt Huse will mold them into the type of team Northern fans are accustomed to seeing year-in-and-year out. But, with a newer team, and a tough nonconference schedule, it will definitely take the Lights some time to become what they aspire to be.

“Our practices have been great so far,” Huse said. “These guys have been working really hard, through preseason conditioning, and through our first practices of the year. But there’s nothing that can take the place of game experience and we haven’t had that yet. So there will be some growing pains with this team. That’s just the way it is. You’re just not going to be able to avoid that every single year, and this team will have their share of those ups and downs. Having said that, I think we’ve proven that we can still get it done, even when we add some new players to the mix. And I don’t see any reason why this team can’t do the same.”

And the Lights will get plenty of chances to figure things out, and get those growing pains out of the way over the next few months. Frontier play won’t begin until Jan. 9-10 when the Lights host Montana Tech and Lewis-Clark State, but in the meantime, Northern will battle a slew of quality opponents, including five teams either ranked in the NAIA Top 25, or NCAA Division II opponents. Those tough opponents include, Warner Pacific and College of Idaho on the road in November, as well as games in Arizona against NAIA powers Concordia-Irvine and Cal-State San Marcos. MSU-N also plays six home games during the nonconference season, including three in a row to open. The Lights host Concordia of Alberta Thursday night, then play back-to-back games against Northwest Indian College and the University of Lethbridge Oct. 16-17.

“I think this is as tough a nonconference schedule as we’ve faced here,” Huse said. “We play a lot of really quality teams, and a lot of them are on the road. So with a new team, a lot of new faces and the quality of our opponents, we’ve got our work cut out for us over the next couple of months.”

Indeed, the Lights do have their work cut out for them, but that’s nothing new. Northern has always battled tough nonconference foes, in preparation for what it will face during the Frontier season. And this year will be no different.

No matter who the opponent is, the Lights are excited to get things started. Huse is excited to get things starters, and he’s looking forward to seeing if the newest MSU-N basketball team can continue the tradition of excellence that has been built at MSU-N over the last two decades, and especially during Huse’s 13-year stay at Northern, in which he has become the school’s all-time winningest coach with 256 victories in 12 seasons.

“It’s always exciting to start a new season,” Huse said. It’s exciting to transition from practice to games and see what we’re capable of. I think our guys are hungry to get out there and see what they’re made of. I know they’re excited to get this season going. And as coaches, we get hungry, too. And I’m really looking forward to this season. This team has great potential and I’m excited to see what they can do.”

Northern begins its new season Thursday night when the Lights host Concordia-Alberta at 7 inside the Armory Gymnasium.

MSU-N Quick Facts

Head Coach: Shawn Huse (13th season)

2013-14: 23-9 overall, 11-5 in Frontier (2nd). Lost in first round of NAIA national tournament.

Key Returnees: Corbin Pearson (6-6, Sr. 1st-Team All-Conference 2014), Jesse Vaughn (6-5, Sr.), Nick Blount (6-3, Sr.), Damian Robinson (6-4, Jr.)

2014-15 Lights Basketball Schedule

Oct. 9 vs Concordia of Alberta

Oct. 16 vs NW Indian College

Oct. 17 vs Lethbridge

Oct. 24 vs Lethbridge

At Lethbridge Tournament

Oct. 25 vs Alberta

At Lethbridge Tournament

Nov. 7 at Portland Bible College

Nov. 8 at Warner Pacific

Nov. 10 at NW Christian

Nov. 21 at NW Nazarene

Nov. 22 at College of Idaho

Dec. 18 vs Concordia-Irvine

At Phoenix, Arizona

Dec. 19 vs Cal-State San Marcos

At Phoenix, Arizona

Dec. 20 vs Grant-McEwan

At Phoenix, Arizona

Jan. 2 vs Augustana

AmericInn Classic

Jan. 3 vs Augustana

AmericInn Classic

Jan. 4 vs Crossroads University

AmericInn Classic

Jan. 9 vs Montana Tech

Jan. 10 vs LC State

Jan. 15 at Carroll College

Jan. 17 at Rocky Mountain

Jan. 23 vs UM-Western

Jan. 24 vs Westminster

Jan. 31 at Great Falls

Feb. 5 at LC State

Feb. 7 at Montana Tech

Feb. 13 vs Rocky Mountain

Feb. 14 vs Carroll College

Feb. 19 at UM-Western

Feb. 21 at Westminster

Feb. 28 vs Great Falls

March 4 Frontier Playoffs