SILENCED: Saints beat Lights at the buzzer

The Montana State University-Northern Lights did almost everything they needed to do to win their Frontier Conference opener Monday night in the Armory Gymnasium. Everything but stop Carroll College freshman Guilherme Pedra in the final seconds.

Northern led 69-68 with :08 left, but Carroll had the ball and Ifeyni Okeke found a wide-open Pedra under the basket for a score and an and-one. The play lifted the Saints to a 71-69 win, and handed Northern a heartbreaking first loss of the season.

"I was really happy with our physical effort and how we played, with all things considered," MSU-N head coach Shawn Huse said. "Of course I am disappointed with the outcome and our mental mistakes, especially when they come from upperclassmen. That being said, we just have to remember we are not only in our conference season right now, but also in our preseason. We just haven't had as many game opportunities as some teams, to learn and grow. It is what it is living and playing in a pandemic."

The Lights were gut-wrenched because they looked like they had the game well in hand. Trailing 36-32 at the half, Northern got hot, with Mascio McCadney and David Harris hitting 3-pointers early in the second stanza. Zyare Ruffin got into the act as well, and Jomel Boyd scored on back-to-back plays in the paint, as the Lights opened up a seven-point lead with under four minutes to go.

The Lights were still leading 67-63 with under two minutes to go and when Aaron Collins scored on a putback with 1:22 to play, Northern was in great shape. But Shamrock Campbell hit a triple with 1:05 to play to pull the Saints within one, and from that point, each team got a crucial stop before Carroll was able to pull off the dramatic win.

Northern had fought hard to get to where the Lights were down the stretch. They started strong, with early threes from Harris and McCadney, and led 10-5. But, Jovan Sljivancanin got hot midway through the first half, sparking an 11-2 Carroll run, and while Northern bounced back with an emphatic dunk from Harris off a steal, Carroll got a three by Campbell to pull in front as time expired in the first half.

Sljivancanin came up big for the Saints 28 points and 11 rebounds, while Campbell added 15. Carroll also clamped down on the Lights defensively, in the first half, allowing just two threes but Northern still shot 51 percent for the game. Harris led four Lights in double figures with 17 points, while Boyd had 15 and nine rebounds. McCadney added 14 and Nelson chipped in with 10 as the Lights fell to 1-1 overall and 0-1 in the Frontier.

"Give Carroll credit for grinding and finding a way," Huse said. "We just have to pick ourselves up now and get prepared for tomorrow. I think our team has a great deal of potential, but just has a lot of experience to get and growing to do."

It will be a quick turnaround for the Lights as they come right back to the Armory tonight to host the Saints again, with a 7 p.m. tip. The Lights then travel to Montana Western for their first road games this Saturday and Sunday in Dillon.

Lights are 0-1 in Frontier; Next Up: vs Carroll tonight at 7

Carroll College 71, Lights 69

CC - Gui Pedra 4-6 1-1 9, Dennis Flowers 0-3 0-0 0, Jovan Slijivancanin 11-19 10-11 28, Shamrock Campbell 6-12 0-1 15, Brnden Temple 4-6 2-3 11, Ifeanyi Okeke 1-4 1-2 4, Murat Guzelockak 2-6 0-0 4. Totals: 28-58 8-12 71.

MSU-N - Jomel Boyd 7-11 2-2 15, David Harris 7-12 0-1 17, Mascio McCadney 6-10 0-0 14, CJ Nelson 4-9 1-3 10, Aaron Collins 2-5 2-2 6, Allen Sims 0-2 0-0 0, TJ Reynolds 0-2 0-2 0, Zyare Ruffin 3-5 0-0 7. Totals: 29-57 5-7.

Halftime: Carroll 36-32. 3-pointers: CC 7-18 (Slijivancanin 2, Campbell 3, Temple 1, Okeke 1), MSU-N 6-18 (Harris 3, McCadney 2, Ruffin 1). Rebounds: CC 29 (Slijivancanin 11), MSU-N 29 (Boyd 9). Fouls: CC 13, MSU-N 17; Fouled out: None.