Lights out-battle the Bears

The last time the Montana State University-Northern men played in the Armory Gymnasium, they were losing a heartbreaking overtime game to Montana Tech. After that, the Lights had a game against Providence canceled. So, it has been a pretty rough seven days.

Rough until Saturday night when Northern made up for lost time, as the Lights beat Rocky Mountain College 71-55 in the first of back-to-back meetings between the two rivals. Northern and Rocky were supposed to have already met last month in Billings, but those games were called off due to COVID-19. And while the Lights were a little unfamiliar with the Bears as a result, it didn't seem to affect their shooting.

C.J. Nelson and David Harris canned early 3-pointers, while Aaron Collins, Harris and Mascio McCadney added triples late as Northern went on a 7-0 run and led 31-23 at intermission.

The Lights, however, were just getting warmed up.

McCadney would hit three treys as part of a 12-0 Northern run in the second half, which helped balloon the lead to 21 points with less than 10 minutes left. The Bears had fight, however, and behind 20 points from Maxim Stephens, they went on a 15-2 run, cutting the lead all the way down to eight at one point. The Lights didn't panic, though, and timely shots from Nelson and Harris in the closing minutes helped put the Bears away for good.

Northern shot 53 percent from the floor and made 11 threes, while holding Rocky to just three triples. Harris led four Lights in double figures with 20 points, while McCadney added 16, and the senior duo combined for eight bombs. Nelson chipped in with 13 points and Jomel Boyd scored 12.

"I really like how well we defended tonight," Northern head coach Shawn Huse said. "Rocky has a great deal of scoring ability on that team. I thought we sat down, guarded and made great plays as a group ... some of which probably doesn't show in a box score.

"It seemed like everyone pitched in and hit a shot when we needed one. Our leaders stepped up big and so did everyone else," he added.

Everyone pitched in again Sunday afternoon as the Lights took care of the Battlin' Bears for a second straight day, this time 68-58 in the Armory.

It was another good win for the Lights, who led 31-23 at halftime. Then, MSU-N opened up a lead as big as 15 points after McCadney nailed a triple with under 10 minutes to play. From there, Rocky fought back and ultimately trimmed the lead down to four points with under five to go. But Northern answered back. McCadney made a driving layup, and Harris hit another clutch shot, and the Lights were back ahead by double digits and were able to close out the Bears from there.

McCadney would have a big night, scoring 22 points and hitting four threes, while Harris was key again, adding 19 points. Boyd chipped in with 13 points and six rebounds, as the Lights improved to 4-4 in the Frontier and 5-4 overall.

"Rocky never goes away easy and they truly are a tough team. They are well coached and just still in their learning process right now. I truly believe they will make noise down this upcoming stretch," Huse noted.

With a five-game homestand under their belt, the Lights will now travel to first-place Providence next Saturday and Sunday, followed by games at Carroll College Feb. 6-7.

"I could not be prouder right now," Huse said. "Everyone is learning and improving and that's the main thing. We need all pistons firing as we head towards the back half. We are up to speed well beyond where we were when we started into our league slate. We still have a ways to go, but I like where we are at right now."

Lights are 4-4 in Frontier, 5-4 overall; Next: at UP

Saturday-Sunday

Lights 71, Rocky Mountain 55

RMC - Nick Hart 1-6 0-0 2, Tayshawun Bradford 4-9 0-0 9, Sam Vining 7-12 1-1 15, Cade Tyson 0-0 0-0 0, Kelson Eiselein 1-3 0-0 2, Josh Eckmann 0-2 0-2 0, Darius Henderson 2-4 0-0 5, Maxim Stephans 9-15 1-2 20, Beau Santistevan 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 25-53 2-5 55.

MSU-N - Nakyel Shelton 1-3 0-0 3, David Harris 7-10 2-2 20, Mascio McCadney 6-14 0-0 16, CJ Nelson 6-9 0-0 13, Jomel Boyd 5-9 2-2 12, Aaron Collins 1-3 0-0 3, Allen Sims 1-4 0-0 2, Zyare Ruffin 1-1 0-0 2, Micaiah Hauser 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-53 4-4 71.

Halftime: Northern 31-23. 3-pt FG:Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 3-11 (Bradford 1-5, Vining 0-1, Eiselein 0-1, Henderson 1-2, Stephans 1-1, Santistevan 0-1), Montana State-Northern 11-24 (Shelton 1-2, Harris 4-7, McCadney 4-9, Nelson 1-2, Collins 1-2, Sims 0-2). Rebounds: Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 27 (Stephans 8), Montana State-Northern 23 (Harris 6). Fouls Rocky Mountain (Mont.) 11, Montana State-Northern 12. Fouled out: none.

Lights 68, Rocky Mountain 58

RMC – Tyson Cade 1-6 0-0 2, Maxim Stephens 6-14 5-10 17, Josh Eckmann 3-8 2-2- 9, Beau Santistevan 2-6 0-0 5, Kelson Eiselen 5-9 2-2 10, Sam Vining 5-9 2-2 14, Scott Malikie 0-1 1-2 1. Totals: 21-51 10-16.

MSU-N – Naykel Shelton 1-5 0-0 3, David Harris 7-13 3-3 19, Mascio McCadney 9-16 0-0 22, CJ Nelson 1-6 0-1 2, Jomel Boyd 6-8 1-1 13, aaron Collins 1-4 0-0 3, Allen Sims 1-2 0-0 2, Zyare Ruffin 2-2 0-0 4. Totals: 28-56 4-5.

Halftime: Northern 31-23. 3-pointers: RMC 6-15 (Santistevan 1, Eiselen 2, Vining 2), MSU-N 8-22 (Shelton 1, Harris 2, McCadney 4, Collins 1). Rebounds: RMC 34 (Stephans 10), MSU-N 24 (Boyd 6). Fouls: RMC 13, MSU-N 15; Fouled out: None.