Lights split games in South Dakota

The first road trip of 2010 turned out to be a good experience for the Montana State University-Northern men's basketball team.

The Lights (2-1) earned a split a tournament hosted by Black Hills State University this weekend, and Northern head coach Shawn Huse was more than pleased .

"This was this team's first road games together," Huse said. "And the fact that we were able to go down there and really hang in there with two outstanding teams," he added. "That really shows us what kind of team we're capable of becoming this season. I couldn't be more pleased with our guys."

The Lights took on perennial DAC power and tournament host Black Hills on Friday night, and although the Yellowjackets were able to escape with a 65-62 win, the Lights were in the game from start to finish.

MSU-N led 26-25 at intermission, and the game was truly back and forth from start to finish. But BHSU did just enough to hang on at the end.

"Black Hills is a team that's been together for four years, and they have a lot of talent," Huse said. "So playing in their gym in our first road game, and the fact that it really was back and forth the whole way, and that we had a chance to win late, I couldn't be happier with this team. We just came up a little short, but we played very well against a very good team."

Devin Jackson, David Maddock and Shaun Tatarka all scored 11 points each for the Lights in Friday night's loss. Jackson and Maddock also combined to hit four of Northern's seven 3-pointers.

And although MSU-N had to turn around and play another tough game against South Dakota Mines on Saturday afternoon, the Lights were up to the challenge. Northern rebounded from Friday's close loss with a 60-51win over the Hardrockers to go 1-1 on the weekend.

"Another game that was back and forth against a very tough opponent," Huse said. "It was a lot like Friday in that we held a lead at halftime, then let it get away from us in the second half.

"But this time we were able to wrestle the lead back," he added. "And in the final six minutes we not only held on, but built on it. Our defense came up big, we got a lot of big stops, and it was one of those wins where every single player on the team had a hand in it. Every guy did something to contribute and that's really good to see this early on."

Tatarka and LaVon Myers combined for 31 points and six three's in Saturday win. Tatarka poured in 16 points, while Myers added 15, and Jackson kept a hot hand, scoring 14 points, including two of the Lights' 10 three's.

With two games against DAC schools behind them, the Lights will return home this weekend to face two more DAC opponents. MSU-N hosts Dickinson State on Friday afternoon and Minot State on Saturday night.