GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Right when they needed it, the Argos put together one of their best games of the season, ending a seven-game losing streak with a stunning 90-82 upset over (15) Carroll College. The Argos won with an efficient offense, good 3-point shooting, and an opportunistic defense.
"This was huge. Its big for our guys – for their momentum and their psyche," UGF head coach Anthony Owens said. "We've been on the road for six games straight and you start losing and you don't know what it feels like to win anymore. So it's huge for us."
Early in the first half there were shades of the team's lopsided loss to the Fighting Saints three weeks prior, but after falling into a seven point deficit, UGF began to find its stride.
At the eight minute mark, sophomore Sigman Farmer III and senior Darren Lockett led a four minute charge that turned the seven point Carroll lead into a six points Argo advantage. That lead dwindled to two at the half but not before the Argos gained confidence, momentum, and the energy of the home crowd.
That momentum didn't initially carry over at the start of the second with Carroll regaining the lead before a big three from redshirt freshman Michael Harris tied the game back up at 43. His three spurred on another slow but steady Argo run that didn't until a three from junior Issac Howard at 2:36 mark made it a 15-point UGF lead.
During that run, the team featured a balanced offense and a defense that allowed a decent opponent shooting percentage but also forced six Carroll turnovers. UGF also received quality minutes from freshman point guard Jarred Burr. While Burr only finished with five points, all in the first half, he led the team with six assists and just one turnover.
"He's been playing pretty well the last couple games," Owens said of Burr. "He's a freshman and he's learning. He does a good job and tonight was his night."
Carroll's full court press briefly gave the Argos some trouble in the final minutes but a few clutch free throws from sophomore Sergio Berkley put the game out of reach.
UGF shot 51 percent on the night, while forcing the Saints into 20 turnovers. Owens played nine different players for 18 minutes or more, for of whom scored over ten points. Overall it was one of the team's most balanced games of the season.
"We've played three good halves in the last two games before this and tonight they just put it all together," Owens said. "Being at home is a huge difference for us. It's comfortable and those fans get your going."
Lockett finished at the team's leading scorer with 15 points and was closely followed by junior Malik Barnes with 14, and Farmer and Harris with 13 each. Farmer and Barnes also combined for seven of UGF's 11 steals and nine of the team's 29 rebounds.
The Argos scored 23 of their 90 points off turnovers and also received 36 points from their bench.
With the win, UGF snaps a seven-game losing streak and stays one win ahead of Montana Tech for the final playoff spot in the Frontier Conference with a record of 11-14 (4-12). UGF and Tech will be each other's' next opponent, as the two face off on Friday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the McLaughlin Center.
