Lights hoping to rock the Bears one more time

It's extremely hard to beat the same team three times in one season. But if the Montana State University-Northern Lights want to extend their season, they're going to have do something even harder - beat the same team a fourth time.

The Lights (19-11) already own three wins over Rocky Mountain College this season. Now, fourth-seeded Northern and fifth-seeded Rocky (17-13) meet again in the Frontier Conference quarterfinals, only this time, the loser's season is over. In other words, there is no tomorrow. Tonight's game tips off at 7 inside the Armory Gymnasium.

And while the Lights started Frontier play with an overtime win over the Battlin' Bears back in December in Havre, and they are carrying plenty of momentum after winning their final three games of the regular season, a stretch that started with a victory over RMC two weeks ago, Northern head coach Shawn Huse knows Rocky's third trip into the Armory will be even tougher on the Lights than the previous two were.

"It's not easy beating a good team three times, let alone four," Huse said. "We certainly know we have our work cut out for us but we are excited about the opportunity as well."

The Lights should be excited. Needing to win their last three games of the season in order to secure a top-four finish in the Frontier and tonight's home game, Northern did just that. The streak started with a win over the Bears, then continued with a senior night victory over archrival Providence last Wednesday night. And finally, Northern had to go to Butte and beat Montana Tech last Friday night - which the Lights indeed did.

So, there's no question MSU-N comes into tonight's game with a lot of confidence. Northern is getting good production across the board, led by senior Ryan Reeves and his 16 points, nine rebounds and nearly four blocks per game. Senior Charles Porter is also having a big final season in Havre, while newcomers Gabe Porter and Caulin Bakalarski both average in double figures, as does sophomore sharp-shooter Adam Huse, who leads the Frontier in 3-pointers.

However, as well as the Lights are playing, and as many weapons as they have, Rocky is no slouch. Every game with the Bears has been a competitive one this season, games in which the Lights have gutted out victories down the stretch. And in every one of those games, Rocky sophomore Jared Samuelson has scored at least 20 points, so he will be a focal point for Northern's top-notch defense tonight. Rocky's post play is also key, as Danny Betcher is strong on the inside, as is Austin Payne. Guards Latrelle Franklin and Chad Kananan anchor the RMC perimeter, and collectively, the Bears are one of the top offenses in the Frontier, averaging 81 points per game.

So there's no denying Rocky's talent, and while Northern hasn't lost to the Bears this season, and RMC brings a three-game skid into tonight's playoff bout, Huse is making sure his team takes nothing for granted.

"Rocky makes life tough on their opponents on both ends," Huse said. "And we will have to counter their defense and offense with good execution if we expect to get them again."

Confidence should also play a key role in tonight's game, not just because the Lights are 3-0 against the Battlin' Bears, but, because several times this season, Northern has dug itself out of a hole in the Frontier standings. After starting the year 5-1 in league play, the Lights dipped below .500 late in January. They rebounded with several home wins, and were again battling for a top spot in the league, until three straight road losses, all by a 2-point margin, had them sitting at 6-9 in league play with three games left. And yet that's when the Lights buckled down and ended the regular season on their current three-game winning streak, and, to boot, made sure they got to play at least one more game at home.

"I am very proud of our guys as they have been playing excellent basketball for most of the back half of our season," Huse said. "We don't have as much to show for it as we hoped ... but at the same time, we earned enough victories to host this playoff game. And that is truly one heck of an accomplishment in this tough league."

Indeed, the Frontier is as tough as it gets, so being at home in the playoffs is a big accomplishment. And for the Lights, their season may very well come down to earning this home game, as they are hoping the Armory advantage will help push them into the semifinals and a likely matchup with top-seeded Carroll College Friday night in Helena. But to get there, Northern has to do something extremely rare - beat the same team for a fourth time. That challenge tips off tonight at 7 in the Armory.

The rest of tonight's playoff games have second-seeded UM-Western hosting Montana Tech and third-seeded Lewis-Clark State hosting sixth-seeded Providence. The Frontier semifinals are set for Friday night in Helena, and the remaining highest seed, while the Frontier championship will be settled Monday night at the site of the highest remaining seed in the field.

#4 Lights vs #5 Rocky Mountain College tonight at 7 in Frontier Playoffs

In Armory Gymnasium

Radio: 92.5 KPQX

Streaming: msun.edu/athletics

Twitter: HavreDaily

Lights Projected Starters

G Gabe Porter 6-1, JR 13 ppg

G Devin Bray 5-11 SO 9 ppg

F Charles Porter 6-2 SR 11 ppg

F Justin Dunsmore 6-6 JR 11 ppg

C Ryan Reeves 6-10 SR 16 ppg