Home Debut: Lights take the floor

The season started early for the Montana State University-Northern men’s basketball team. But, the Lights have had to wait to make their home debut.

That wait is almost over, however, as the Lights are finally ready to take the court inside the Armory Gymnasium. On Friday night, Northern (2-0) will play host to Warner-Pacific University, and MSU-N will remain home to play Portland Bible College in a Halloween contest Saturday afternoon. This weekend’s games mark the start of a three-game home stand for the Lights, who will also host Dickinson State Nov. 7.

“We’re excited to be at home,” exclaimed longtime MSU-N head coach Shawn Huse. “I know the guys are looking forward to play in front of our fans for the first time.”

And, Northern is looking forward to two very challenging home games.

Friday night’s game against Warner-Pacific is the season-opener for the Knights, who play in the NAIA Cascade Conference and are ranked No. 18 in the NAIA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll. And, the Knights, who are led by returning guard Earl Jones, who averaged 15 points per game a year ago, will give the Lights all they can handle. The Knights beat Northern at home last season, and with a bevy of talented transfers, like Oleg Marandyuk, Franky Johnson and Taylor Young, all guards, as well as big forwards Keaton Bankofier and Charles Honest, they come to Havre a very talented group, once again.

“Traditionally, Warner-Pacific has been a very good team that excels at going on big runs,” Huse said. “Their offense feeds off a defense made up mostly of varying styles of zone. Once again, their roster appears to consist of guys that can score in a variety of ways. This will be a very good early season game to see where we are at right now, and learn from, as we move forward.”

The Lights should also get a good test from Portland Bible College Saturday afternoon. Northern squeaked out a one-point win against the Wildcats in Portland last year, and PBU went on to win the NCCAA West Regional championship.

So far this season, the Wildcats are getting good production from the likes of Matthew Martin, who averages 11 points per game, as well as Javon Lue and Cody Rowley. PBC is a small team, with Rowley as their tallest player at 6-4, but the Wildcats are certainly built to get up and down the floor.

“PBC is in their second year under a new, very well-coached regime,” Huse said. “They play a very open style of basketball where all five guys have freedom of movement on the floor, putting opponents in many unique situations on defense. They compete extremely hard on both ends and we will need to be alert at all times.”

And while it’s a new season for the Knights and Wildcats, it is too for the Lights. Northern played well in its season-opening games in Canada three weeks ago, but the Lights now are really starting fresh again. Still, with veterans like Trevail Lee, Warren Edmonson and K.J. Rech helping all of MSU-N’s newcomers get acclimated to basketball at this level, this weekend’s home games will be very good for the Lights as they move forward into the heart of their non-conference season. Look for those newcomers, like David Straughter, Badhasa Margarsa, Justin Dunsmore, Tyler Chandler, Ryan Reeves and Will Walker to have a big impact, this weekend and beyond.

“Being that they (Wildcats, Knights) have only played one exhibition game and one non-conference game between them, it is tough to know too much right now,” Huse said. “Given past years' teams and the little we do know, though, it is safe to say these are great challenges for us this early in the season.”

Friday night’s game between Northern and Warner-Pacific tips off at 7 p.m. in the Armory Gymnasium. Saturday’s game against Portland Bible College will start at 3 p.m. Fans are asked to wear their Halloween costumes to Saturday’s game, where prizes will be given.