First-place Lights hit the road

The Montana State University-Northern men's basketball team is ranked higher than any other Frontier Conference team right now. And the No. 16 Lights are alone atop the conference standings.

But if one lesson has been learned through 10 league games this season, it's that things can change in a hurry.

And that's what the Lights (18-7, 7-3) will try to guard against when they take on league foes Rocky Mountain College tonight in Billings and Carroll College Saturday in Helena. The Lights may be on top of the Frontier right now, but their lead is just a game of UM-Western and Westminster College, and they lead Carroll by just one game. So to say this weekend's road finale is big would be an understatement.

"We know they will be two difficult games," Northern head coach Shawn Huse said. "Life in the Frontier Conference is always difficult on the road, but this year, it's been tough home and away. I think this year, more than any other, you've seen anybody can win on a given night. So every game in this league is a huge challenge right now."

Indeed, five different teams have sat atop the league standings at one point or another this season, but it's the Lights who are out in front at the stretch run of the season. And with just four games left, it's crunch time for Northern and everyone else.

And as well as the Lights have played this season, even with no returning starters and no seniors, they haven't fared well on the road in conference play. MSU-N has beaten Montana tech and UGF on the road, but the Lights would love to get a couple more wins this weekend.

And that quest starts tonight in Billings. RMC (10-16, 3-7) is in last place in the league standings, but the Bears have proven anything but a doormat. They only lost to Northern 55-52 last month in Havre, and with guards like E.J. Ross and Anthony Carter, the Bears can be as explosive as any team in the league. But the main concern for Northern tonight is 6-10 center Sergio Trocha, who torched the Lights for a double-double last month. Trocha leads the Frontier in rebounding and when he's scoring, he's almost impossible to stop. So while Northern's guards, like Shaun Tatarka, Devin Jackson and LaVon Myers are always a key factor, getting help on Trocha from Joe Simpson, Sean Kelly and Ben Mitchell will be paramount tonight.

And if the Lights can find a way to win in Billings, something they haven't been able to do with frequency over the years, they will only complete half the journey. That's because the rival Saints await Northern on Saturday.

The Lights have had plenty of highs against Carroll (16-7, 6-4) in the past, including last month's 73-54 drubbing in Havre. And even in Helena, Northern has found ways to win, but Huse and the Lights know they are in for a test on Saturday night. Carroll is the team which has flown somewhat under the radar this season, but the Saints have put themselves in position to steal the Frontier title at the end of the season, and make a postseason run.

And that's what MSU-N will be trying to guard against on Saturday. And to do that, the Lights will have to slow down 6-5 junior Andy Garland, who averages 16 points and eight rebounds per game. Northern has kept Garland in check the last two years in Havre, but in his home gym, Garland has been a different story. And with guards like sensational Australian freshman Nick Jones, as well as Sam Catmel and Tony Dalton, the Saints have the firepower to beat anybody on a given night.

Tonight's game against Rocky in Billings will tip off at 8 as does Saturday night's bout between Carroll and Northern in Helena. Both games can be heard locally on 92.5 KPQX FM. The Lights return home to close the regular season against Westminster and LC State next weekend. See http://www.havredailynews.com

for immediate scores.

MSU-N battles Bears tonight in Billings

Frontier Men's Standings

Conf. Overall

MSU-Northern 7-3 18-7

Westminster 7-4 19-6

UM-Western 7-4 19-8

Carroll 6-4 16-7

Lewis-Clark State 5-6 15-9

Montana Tech 4-7 6-18

Great Falls 3-7 10-15

Rocky Mountain 3-7 10-16