Skylights fall, Lights win at buzzer against Rocky Mountain College

The Montana State University-Northern men's and women's basketball teams ended a four-game, Frontier Conference road trip Saturday afternoon in Billings.

The men's game was an incredible thriller that went into triple-overtime before Northern's Zackary Martinez hit a game-winner to lift the Lights to an incredible 86-84 win.

"How do you even explain that?" Northern head coach Shawn Huse said. "I am so happy for these guys and the coaches. It has been such a tough year with several early conference close losses, coming after such an impressive preseason. I believe we have played in eight conference OT's so far, and it is basically only half way. So I commend Rocky for an unbelievable battle tonight. They did not give in for one second and had their chances, but I feel like the Lights deserved this one as much as anyone in the basketball world right now. And Zack and crew were not going to be denied through it all."

Indeed, the Lights had just lost to Rocky in OT at home just two weeks ago. On Saturday, Rocky went on a 10-0 run at the start of the game. The Lights slowly started to come back, as they went on a 10-0 run to cut the game back to three. RMC's Beau Santistevan hit a three to take the lead going into half time 30-27.

The Lights came out of halftime with some energy and had five steals and eight points to take the lead 35-32. Rocky got down eight points and battled back to tie the game within three minutes left. Maxim Stephens hit two free throws to take the lead by two with 1:05 left on the clock. C.J. Nelson hit a two-pointer shot to tie the game to push into overtime.

Northern took the lead by three points with 1:25 left in the game. Rocky missed a three with :06 left. The Battlin' Bears got a steal and hit a three to take the game into double overtime, however. Northern got the ball with :02 second left in double overtime and got fouled. Jesse Keltner hit one of two free throws to tie the game, sending it into triple overtime. Santistevan hit a shot to take the lead by one and Jesse Owens hit two free throws to take the lead by three for the Bears. Martinez went one for two at the free throw line to follow. Then, Northern got a steal and hit a jumper to tie the game. Martinez stayed in the play and got another steal and hit another jumper at the buzzer to lift the Lights to an incredible win.

The Lights were led by Jesse Keltner, who had 15 points and five rebounds. Immanuel Anderson added 14 points going 6-12 from the field. Anthony Braggs Jr., Martinez, and Dae'Kwon Watson each added 11 points. The Battlin' Bears were led by Stephens who had a double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Santistevan added 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Keal Robinson added 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Northern improved to 3-5 in the Frontier ahead of this week's home games against Montana Western and Montana Tech.

"It was an unbelievable effort Zack made in the end. And a fantastic team effort made throughout," Huse said. "Everyone stepped up big tonight. We played sound team basketball overall from start to finish and I could not be prouder. Yes, we made some timely blunders, and missed too many great looks, and need to keep working at those things. But I still feel like overall we played good quality team basketball. Everyone contributed something. We feel like the sky is the limit for this squad."

Meanwhile, things didn't go as well for the Skylights, who fell to No. 20 RMC 76-41. The Skylights fell in the field half 37-11. The Skylights outscored Rocky Mountain in the fourth quarter 20-15. The Skylights were led by Briaunna McCullough, who had 12 points going 5-10 from the field. Rachel Van Blaricom added nine points and three steals.

The Battlin' Bears were led by Kloie Thatcher, who had 18 points going 7-9 from the field. Tynesha Parnell and Morgan Baird added 12 points each.

The Skylights are 7-14 in the overall season and 0-8 in the Frontier. They begin a two-week, four-game homestand Thursday night against Montana Western.

Rocky Mountain 76, Skylights 41

MSU-Northern 8 4 9 20 -41

Rocky Mountain 16 21 24 15 - 76

MSU-N - Briannna McCullough 12, Rachel Van Blaricom 9, Savanna Toms 6, Ryley Kehr 2, Jalen Callender 2, Sydney Hansen 7, Shyan Krass 3. Totals: 16-46 7-11.

RMC - Kloie Thatcher 18, Ky Buell 9, Dominique Stepehns 8, Mackenzie Sethman 5, Gracee Lekvold 2, Tynesaha Parnell 12, Morgan Baird 12, Illana Moran 7, Kacy Horton 3. Totals: 30-57 7-11.

3-pointers: MSU-N 2-11 (Van Blaricom 1, Hansen 1), RMC 9-27 (Thatcher 3, Dethman 1, Stepehns 2, Buell 1, Parnell 2, Baird 1), Rebounds: MSU-N 27 (Hansen 6), RMC 24 (Linse 5), Fouls: MSU-N 11, RMC 13; Fouled out: None.

Lights 86, Rocky Mountain 84, 3OT

MSU-N - Jesse Keltner 15, Immanuel Anderson 14, Zackary Martinez 11, C.J. Nelson 9, Myles Dalton 6, Dae'Kwon Watson 11, Anthony Braggs Jr. 11, Jacob Randall 4, Micaiah Hauser 2. Totals: 38-93 10-19.

RMC - Maxim Stephens 23, Kael Robinson 21, beau Santistevan 21, Jesse Owens 7, Elliot Brooks 2, Cade Tyson 5, Brett Clark 3, Nick Hart 2. Totals: 32-69 13-17.

Halftime: Rocky 30-27. 3-pointers: MSU-N 4-19 (Braggs Jr. 3, Hauser 1), RMC 7-26 (Robinson 2, Santistevan 2, Owens 1, Tyson 1, Clark 1), Rebounds: MSU-N 28 (Randall 6), RMC 46 (Stephens 11); Fouls: MSU-N 16; RMC 20; Fouled out: Stephens.