LEWISTON, Idaho – The University of Great Falls men's basketball team fell 87-65 to the 15th ranked team in the nation, and defending conference champions despite a big night from redshirt-junior Matthew Brooks-McGregor. Lewis-Clark State College shutdown UGF's leading scorer, Sergio Berkley, and shot over 55 percent from the field to hand the Argos a loss in the first game of Frontier Conference play.
 
UGF entered the game looking to end a five game losing streak to the Warriors, but two early 3-point field goals for LC State started things on the wrong foot for UGF. Senior center Andrej Slavik scored five of the Argo's first seven points to keep things close early on, and when he slowed down, Brooks-McGregor, senior forward Isaac Howard, and junior Tymarieh Dixon did their best to pick up the slack in the first half.
 
Those four players combined to score 26 of UGF 33 first half points, but that just wasn't enough to keep up with a Warrior offense that was absolutely on fire. LC State shot 56 percent from the floor in the first half, and 41 percent from behind the 3-point line to take a seven point lead going into the half.
 
What kept the Argos within striking distance, was 11 turnovers from the Warriors.
 
LC State's shooting didn't cool off in the second half, and added to the team's offensive efficiency was a newfound ability to get to the free-throw line. After taking just two free throws in the first half, the Warriors took 12 in the second, making all but one.
 
Try again to answer the Warrior's scoring was Brooks-McGregor who went 2-5 from three in the second half on his way to 10 more points. He was joined this time by junior Davone Oliver Jr. who scored 11 of his 13 total points in the second half.
 
Taking away UGF's one advantage from the first half, Lewis-Clark State only committed 8 turnovers in the second half and forced the Argos into 7, in contrast to 4 in the first. That difference in possessions was enough to expand the Warrior's lead into the 20s before it leveled out.
 
Brooks-McGregor led the Argos in points, rebounds, assists, and steals in the game. His 17 points tied a career high and his 8 rebounds set a new career high. He also added 3 assists and 3 steals.
 
Oliver was the next highest in point totals with 13, including a perfect 7-7 from the free-throw line. Most of Slavik's production came in the first half, but his 9 points set a new career high for the transfer center. He also finished with 6 blocks.
 
The one weapon the Warriors took away, was junior guard Sergio Berkley, who entered the game as UGF's leading scorer with an average of 13 ppg. He was held to just 3 points.
 
With the loss, UGF's record goes to 6-2 (0-1) with the first game of Frontier Conference play under the team's belt. Game two of conference play will come against Montana Tech in Butte, Montana on December 3 at 7:30 p.m.