MSU-Northern basketball took on Rocky Mountain College for the second time this season, this time in Billings on Thursday night. While the Skylights dropped their contest, (58-48), the Lights won their first conference game of the season, (81-69).
For the women (11-10, 2-6), they kept it close without starting point guard Taya Trottier. After losing (20-14) following the first 10 minutes, a (9-0) run by Northern in the second quarter would cut into the deficit after a run by the home team and it was (32-25) at the half. The third quarter was close, but the Skylights could not hang on in the final frame against a team that received votes in the latest poll. Canzas HisBadHorse was the leading scorer for Northern with 15 points, while Savannah Toms contributed 10.
The men (7-14, 1-7) scored the first 10 points of the game, had a double-digit lead in the first five minutes, and were paced by an efficient offense in the first half, taking a (45-28) lead into the locker room. Even without the best player on the floor in Jaylon Lee, Northern staved off runs in the second half and were able to hold on. Leon Sayers IV scored a team-high 19 points and was one of five Lights in double-figures, along with Cinque Maxwell’s 15, JJ Thomas’ 13, and 12 each from Xavier Bailey and Jack Reardon.
Northern is back on home soil this Saturday, hosting Providence for a doubleheader. KPQX-92.5FM and HiLineToday.com has you covered starting around 2pm with Noah Friedman on the call.
