Lights battle Rocky, Carroll on the road

The Frontier Conference basketball season enters its final month. And for the Montana State University-Northern Lights, it's going to be a big month.

That's because the Lights (5-5, 15-7) are right in the thick of the Frontier title race, as they embark on a four-game road trip. And that trip begins with two big games this weekend, starting tonight in Billings when the Lights take on Rocky Mountain College (5-5, 13-8). Northern also trips to Helena Saturday to battle nationally-ranked Carroll College (6-4, 18-4).

"We've got make sure we play Northern basketball for a full 40 minutes every night," MSU-N head coach Shawn Huse said. "Everybody in this league has proven to be very good, so there are no easy nights."

The Lights go on the road having just played three in a row at home. The last two games were dramatic ones, where MSU-N beat then No. 8 Lewis-Clark State in overtime, before falling to UM-Western last Saturday night.

Overtime was also the theme when Northern last played Rocky and Carroll. The Lights opened Frontier play with a win over Rocky in OT back in December, then, the following night, they fell to the Fighting Saints in overtime, in what was a wild weekend in the Armory Gymnasium.

But, plenty of time has passed since the Lights, led by seniors Ryan Reeves and Charles Porter, as well as sharp-shooting Gabe Porter, and junior big man Justin Dunsmore, all of whom average in double figures, last saw the Battlin' Bears and Saints.

Rocky has been up-and-down since falling to the Lights in December, but, the Bears are currently tied with Northern for third place in the Frontier standings, and they have one of the league's most exciting players in sophomore Jared Samuelson, a transfer from the Montana Grizzlies, who averages 19 points and eight rebounds per game. The high-scoring Bears also get double figures from Austin Payne and Latrelle Franklin, while veterans Chad Kananan and Danny Betcher help RMC score 83 points per night, and shoot better than 37 percent from the 3-point-line.

"The Bears have had some big wins this year," Huse said. "It feels like years ago when we played them the first time, but I am guessing it will be just as tough as that one. We will have a lot to deal with regarding their weapons, inside and out ... and will need to really defend well if we want the same outcome as round one."

Rocky does have plenty of weapons, but the Lights know first-hand just how equipped Carroll is, too. And while the Fighting Saints have struggled in recent weeks, losing three of their last four Frontier games, they are still one of the most talented teams in the country, having risen all the way to No. 2 in the NAIA at one point.

"Carroll has a great deal of experience and talent and can really disrupt your offense," Huse said. "There is a small margin for error if we are going to win the most possessions. We know we are very capable of getting them and need to make more plays this go round to do so."

The Saints are talented, starting with senior Ryan Imhoff, who averages 20 points per night, and who scored 32 the last time the Lights and Saints met. Imhoff also pulls down eight rebounds per game, while veterans Match Burnham, Matt Wyman and former Havre Blue Pony Dane Warp are also dangerous scorers, and tall, athletic players that present major matchup problems for the rest of the league.

But where Carroll really impresses is on defense. The Saints allow just 66 points per game, in a league that's been known for scoring this season. So, for the Lights to have success, they'll have to take care of the ball, and shoot it well from the outside. Northern still leads the NAIA in 3-point shooting, and a good shooting night against the defensive-minded Saints is a must.

Finding ways to win on the road is also a must for the Lights, if they want to continue to challenge for the top spot in the Frontier. Northern is just two games out of first place in the Frontier standings heading into a road trip which includes a return trip to UM-Western and Lewis-Clark State next weekend.

But the trips starts tonight with the game against Rocky. Tip-off in the Fortin Center is set for 7:30, while Saturday night's game between the Lights and Saints also tips at 7:30 p.m. in Helena.