Lights cruise in season-opening win

One down, many more to go.

The Montana State University-Northern men’s basketball team opened the 2023-24 campaign with a rousing win over Portland Bible College Saturday in Butte.

The Lights dominated their first game of the season against Portland Bible College, 96-37. Both teams started off strong, as they both shot 100 percent. However, Northern pushed away because of Portland Bible’s turnovers at the beginning. The Lights took the first half 30-21. Northern Lights kept the energy going into the second half outscoring Portland Bible College 51-16.

Zackry Martinez had an outstanding performance for the Lights. He connected three of his four threes recording 17 points and led the team in assists with six. Anthony Mendez and Dea’Kwon Watson each had 13 points each. Xavier Bailey and JJ Thomas added 12 points each. Bailey led the team in rebounds with eight. Portland Bible College was led by Tristen Armas, who had eight points going 3-12 from the field. Jimmie Proctor went 3-8 with seven points. Samuel Reese led the team in rebounds with 20.

The Lights shot a field goal percentage of 50, 27 percent from the arc, and 76 percent from the free throw line. The Lights forced 18 turnovers and had 10 steals. Portland Bible College shot 28 percentage from the field, 15 percent from the 3-point line, and 37 percent from the free throw line.

The Lights will next be on the road to play four games in California Their first game is Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. MST in Riverside, California, against La Sierra University.