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News you can use
Northern's Badhasa Margarsa drives the ball during Friday night's win over Rocky Mountain College at the Armory Gymnasium.
Sierra Richards shoots over a Rocky defender during Friday night's game in Havre.
The Montana State University-Northern men's basketball team came home to build some momentum, while the Northern women were hoping to keep it Friday night against Rocky Mountain College. But only one of the two was able to accomplish the goal.
In the men's game between the No. 15 Lights and Battlin' Bears Friday night in the Armory Gymnasium, the Lights used a 22-2 run in the first half to propel them to a 66-54 victory, snapping a two-game losing skid in the process.
The Lights got hot shooting from Cameron Epps outside and big inside play by Ryan Reeves as they built a 34-12 lead, and eventually led 40-23 at the break. Rocky wouldn't go away however, as the Bears outscored the Lights 15-2 in the first five minutes of the second half, thanks to triples by Taylor Longo. Rocky cut Northern's lead to as close six several times, but the Lights responded with more inside buckets by Reeves, as well as clutch scores from David Straughter in the final five minutes.
Reeves finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Epps and William Walker each scored nine. The win improved Northern's Frontier Conference record to 3-2 ahead of Saturday night's showdown with No. 11 UM-Western.
Meanwhile, the No. 11 Skylights came to the Armory fresh off a huge sweep of Carroll and UGF last weekend. But, the visiting Battlin' Bears put the defensive clamps on the Skylights, and used a 22-point third period to take the lead. Northern had led early in the first half as Peyton Filius and Molly Kreycik nailed back-t0-back three's, but by halftime, the game was tied at 24-24.
The Bears took the lead two minutes into the third stanza, and held it until a three-point play by Sierra Richards put the Skylights up 58-57 with 1:51 to play. RMC's Hailee Farvsteet answered with a bucket and also made a free thorw to give the Bears a two point lead with :17 left. From there, Northern missed a game-tying shot, but, got the ball back with 3.4 second left. Cydney Auzenne attempted a 3-pointer as time expired, but missed, giving the Battlin' Bears the upset.
Richards led the Skylights, who dropped to 3-2 in the Frontier, with 15 points and 11 boards, while Jayde LeFevre scored a game-high 16 for RMC.
The Skylights will try and regroup Saturday night when they host UM-Western.
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