Lights kick off the new year with three at home

Two full months and 10 tough games. That’s how long it’s been since the Montana State University-Northern men’s basketball team has been away from the friendly confines of the Armory Gymnasium.

But that all changes this weekend. The Lights, who last played at home Oct. 17, are set to start a five-game home stand this weekend, with three games at the AmericInn Classic. Thursday night, Northern faces Augustana College, and the two teams will have a rematch Friday afternoon. Northern then wraps up the weekend with a game against Crossroads University Sunday afternoon.

“We’re very excited that this long, tough 10-game road trip is behind us,” Northern head coach Shawn Huse said recently. “I know our guys are very much looking forward to playing at home.”

The next three games will wrap up non-conference play for the Lights, who enters Thursday’s game with an 8-5 record. Northern has been off since Dec. 20, and before the Lights went 1-2 in Arizona two weeks ago, the Lights were off for nearly a month.

But, MSU-N will get no more breaks. Following the two games with Augustana, an Alberta college team, and Sunday’s matinee with Crossroads, an American Christian College Association member from Rochester, Minnesota, the Lights will open conference play with home games against Montana Tech Jan. 9 and Lewis-Clark State Jan. 10. So, this weekend’s home games are big for the Lights, as league play looms.

Currently, Northern is led in scoring by senior Corbin Pearson, who averages 13 points and grabs six rebounds per night. Warren Edmonson adds 12 points per game and Trevail Lee chips in with 11. Nicholas Blount also scores nine per night, while the Lights will have senior forward Jesse Vaughan back after he missed three games with an illness.

Friday night’s game between Northern and Augustana will tip off at 6 p.m. in the Armory Gymnasium. Saturday’s rematch is set for 2 p.m. and Sunday’s game against Crossroads will get underway at 4 p.m.