Northern basketball looks to bounce back

After sweeps at the hands of Providence and Carroll College, the Montana State University-Northern basketball teams are hoping for a turnaround this week.

Tonight, Northern is in Butte for games at Montana Tech. The Skylights beat Tech at home two weeks ago, and will be looking to do so again, as MSU-N brings a 2-3 Frontier Conference record into tonight’s tough game.

Things won’t get any easier for Northern when the Skylights (8-10) return home to face Montana Western Saturday afternoon. Northern opened league play with a tough loss at Western earlier this month, and with former Box Elder stars Joelnell and Kyla Momberg leading the way, Western (3-2, 11-7) will be a tough test for head coach Chris Mouat’s team yet again.

And it won’t be any different for the Lights (1-4, 9-9). Head coach Shawn Huse’ team heads to Butte tonight for a rematch with the nationally ranked Orediggers. Tech edged the Lights 62-60 earlier this month in Havre, and Northern will be looking to return the favor tonight.

MSU-N, which has lost some close games to start league play, will be hoping for another revenge win Saturday when Northern hosts former Light Pat Jensen and the Western Bulldogs. 

Western (9-9, 2-3) beat the Lights 85-84 to open conference play earlier this month, but with the game being so close, the Lights are looking to turn the table on Western at home. 

The Lights host Western at 4 p.m. Saturday in the Armory Gymnnasium, with the women’s game at 2 p.m. First though, the Skylights play at Montana Tech tonight at 5, followed by the Lights and Orediggers at 7 p.m.