Lights, Skylights battle in first road trips of the year

The Montana State University-Northern men’s basketball team had three road games in their first-ever trip to the state of Michigan.

This past weekend, the Lights opened their three-game stand in the Detroit area with a 73-69 loss to Rochester Thursday night. The Lights led 36-33 at halftime, but got outscored by seven points in the final 20 minutes. The Lights had an opportunity to tie the game with three seconds left, but came up just short.

David Harris led Northern with 28 points, while Michigan native Mascio McCadney added 21. The duo also combined for six 3-pointers.

“Extremely proud of the guys,” Northern head coach Shawn Huse said Thursday night. “We fought on the road and put ourselves in a great position to win. We still have a ways to go but this was great experience. I am confident this group will use all the good and bad from tonight moving forward.”

After the tough loss, the Lights had a day’s rest before bouncing back against NAIA rival Siena Heights. On Saturday night, Northern defeated Siena 91-77, behind a 52-point outburst in the second half.

Harris had a huge game for the Lights with 26 points on 10-of-18 shooting. McCadney was right behind with 23 points, while the duo combined for six of Northern’s 12 3-pointers. Jesse Keltner also added 10 points and 10 rebounds in the win.

“I am elated at how we came out, took charge, and finished it off tonight,” Huse said. They have a lot of firepower and put us in tough spots with their aggression. We did a great job for the most part protecting the rim, and turning the stops into points tonight. I’m sure tomorrow will be another tough challenge but it feels great right now, after the heartbreaker at Rochester two nights ago. I am extremely proud of the guys tonight.”

The Lights played another game against Siena Heights Sunday afternoon. Northern was supposed to play the University of Michigan Dearborn, but that game was changed. Northern returns home to host Yellowstone Christian Thursday and Friday at the Armory Gymnasium.

Skylights fall in Great Falls

The Montana State University-Northern women also played their first two road games of the season, at the Providence Tournament in Great Falls.

On Friday night, Northern fell to Corban University of the Cascade Conference, 59-54. Northern went up at half time 33-28. The Skylights pushed the lead to 10 points in the third, as the warriors kept coming and cut the lead to seven going into the fourth. Northern was only able to put down five points to drop to the Warriors. Sydney Hovde had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, while Peyton Kehr led the Skylights with 14 points.

MSU-N lost another close game Saturday, falling to Central Baptist 64-58. Against Central Baptist, Northern outscored them in the first quarter. The Mustangs came back outscoring the Skylights to move ahead into half time. 31-25. The Skylights got with six points, but couldn't take the lead or the game. The Skylights shot a field goal percentage of 37, 38 percent from the arc, and 63 percent from the free throw line.

Central Baptist College shot 42 percentage from the field, 41 percent from the 3-point line, and 81 percent from the free throw.

Kehr did score a game-high 23 points in the loss to Central Baptist, which dropped MSU-N to 1-2 on the young season.

The Skylights head to Washington this week for three non-conference games. They play at Pacific Lutheran Wednesday, followed by games at Northwest University and Evergreen State Friday and Saturday.