Lights sweep in Lethbridge

The Montana State University-Northern Lights got to play their first three games of the 2013-14 men's basketball season in the friendly confines of the Armory Gymnasium. But this past weekend, the Lights got their first road test of the new year.

And it was a stern test indeed, as Northern beat Mount Royal University 73-63 Friday night and the University of Lethbridge, 75-73 Saturday night, with both games taking place in Lethbridge, Alberta.

The two wins over the weekend improved Northern's record to 5-0 heading into this Friday's big home game with Montana State-Billings.

And though Northern head coach Shawn Huse was certainly pleased to get a win over a tough Mount Royal team on Friday night, it was Northern's dramatic victory on Saturday in which the Lights really made strides.

Lethbridge had already beaten Frontier Conference favorite UM-Western last weekend in Dillon, and on Friday night, the Pronghorns took down the University of Great Falls. So the Lights knew they would have their hands full, and they did.

The game was close for the first quarter, but the Lights went on a tear in the second to lead 34-28 at the break. Then, Lethbridge turned up the heat in the third quarter, out-scoring Northern 29-22 to make the game a barn-burner heading into the final stanza. And in that final period, the Lights made some timely 3-pointers and got key defensive stops to hold off the Pronghorns on their home floor.

"Everyone gave good minutes when their number was called," Huse said of Saturday night's victory. "I was very proud of our squad for gutting out a hard-fought battle against a very good Lethbridge team.

That game felt like a conference battle," he added. "So it served as great early season experience for us."

The 3-point-line was key for the Lights on Saturday night as they hit 14 long-range bombs. Alfie Miller made five three's and scored 20 points, while Nicholas Blount hit four triples and scored 13. Northern was balanced too. Corbin Pearson scored 13 points and Jesse Vaughan added 10, while Roshawn West chipped in with eight points and Allan Brown made two three's to score six.

Blount and Miller also led the way in Friday night's win over Mount Royal, another CIS Canada West stalwart. Blount finished with 18 points and three trey's, while Miller totaled 14 points. Will Perry was also outstanding for Northern, scored 16 points and grabbing six rebounds in what Huse called "a hard-fought win".

Now, with two road wins in tow, the Lights return home for an exciting game against NCAA Division II power MSU-B. The Yellowjackets, formerly Eastern Montana College, haven't played in Havre since 1996. The game between Northern and MSU-B tips off at 7 p.m. Friday night in the Armory Gymnasium.

Lights 73, Mount Royal 63

Northern 39 34 – 73

Mount Royal 23 40 – 63

MSU-N – Roshawn West 3-6 2-3 9, Nicholas Blount 7-11 1-2 18, Allan brown 2-6 1-2 5, Corbin Pearson 1-2 1-2 3, Alfie Miller 5-13 2-2 14, Gabe Finley 2-2 0-0 4, Miek LaValley 1-2 0-0 2, Will Perry 8-9 0-0 16, Jesse Vaughan 0-3 2-2 2. Totals: 29-55 8-11 73.

Lights 75, Lethbridge 73

Northern 12 22 22 19 – 75

Lethbridge 11 17 29 16 – 73

MSU-N – Alfie Miller 6-13 3-3 20, Nicholas Blount 4-10, 1-2 13, Corbin Pearson 5-8 3-6 13, Jesse Vaughan 4-8 1-2 10, Roshawn West 3-9 0-0 8, Allan Brown 2-3 0-0 6, Mike LaValley 0-4 3-3 3, Will Perry 1-3 0-0 2, Gabe Finley 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 25-59 11-16 75.