Northern men play tough games in Las Vegas

The Montana State University-Northern men's basketball team has faced two quality NAIA teams so far this season. And they're about to face two more.

Northern (5-0) will head to Las Vegas this weekend for a pair of games against top NAIA competition, and it's an opportunity for the new-look Lights to see just how they stack up against national competition.

The Lights will face Benedictine University of Mesa (1-3) on Friday, a new NAIA program. On Saturday, Northern steps it up another notch as the Lights battle fourth-ranked Arizona Christian (4-0).

"This will be more great competition for our squad and it will be great to see other powerful NAIA teams play," Northern head coach Shawn Huse said. "This tournament always provides a good look at the big picture of what's out there at our level. We expect to see and go against a great deal of athleticism, size, and up-tempo ball pressure basketball all weekend."

Both teams will be a handful for the Lights, but it will be the same on the other end. Northern is off to a great start, and is coming off a big win over Dickinson State last Saturday in Havre. The Lights are being led by veterans Warren Edmonson and Trevail Lee on the perimeter, as well as senior K.J. Rech down low. That trio is combining to average more than 30 points per game thus far. But newcomers are stepping to the forefront as well, in particular, junior David Straughter, who is averaging 11 points and nine rebounds per game, as well as junior guard Tyler Chandler, who is shooting better than 45 percent from the 3-point-line. Fellow reserves William Walker and Justin Dunsmore are also giving the Lights quality minutes off the bench, while as a team, MSU-N is taking on familiar tones. Defensively, the Lights are allowing just 62 points per game, and on offense, Northern is lethal from beyond the arc, shooting 40 percent and attempting 15 trey's per game.

"Coming off the games we have played thus far should have us prepared mentally for what we are about to face," Huse said. "Our guys should be in the right frame of mind with regards to executing our offense while taking care of the ball. Defensively, they will be a great test as well. Getting stops against these teams would be evidence that we are prepared to guard our always tough league competitors."

MSU-N takes on Benedictine at 6 p.m. Friday and Arizona Christian at 12 p.m. Saturday. Both games are at Liberty High School in Las Vegas. Northern is then off until its Frontier Conference opener at Rocky Mountain College Dec. 3.