GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Argo basketball clinched a spot on the Frontier Conference playoffs with an 84-73 win over Montana Tech in a game that essentially equated to a play-in game for the postseason. UGF entered the night one game ahead of the Orediggers in the standings, but Tech holds the head-to-head tiebreaker, so whoever one the game would most likely take the sixth and final spot in the Frontier tournament.
With the season ultimately on the line, UGF played some of its best defense of the year in the first half. The Argos got off to an early lead but nine minutes into the game they held a slim three point advantage. In the next three minutes UGF's full court press would force six Tech turnovers on seven possession, allowing no Oredigger points in that span while the Argos added 11 points to their total. That spurt of defense gave UGF a 14 point lead, their largest of the game.
"In the first half we played really well," head coach Anthony Owens said. "Our kids knew what was at stake. They knew we needed this win to get in."
After that UGF run, Tech started to get the hang of the Argo press and whittled the lead back down to eight at the half. That momentum continued into the second half and after the first five minutes the Orediggers tied the game up at 47.
A buck from senior guard Darren Lockett broke that tie and started a 7-0 Argo run during which the team's press again began to bother Tech. UGF forced four more turnovers over the next three minutes to bring the lead back into double digits and the game was never closer than six points after.
"It's always a big sigh of relief to make the playoffs," Owens said. "Now we know we're in and anything can happen."
While the press was the defining aspect of the game, UGF's offense was also functioning at a high level most of the night. The Argos made use of a balanced, team oriented offense that scored as many points in the paint as out.
Five Argo players finished the game with 12 points or more and for the second straight game, both of which were wins, the team compiled a positive assist-to-turnover ratio.
"What we're doing right now is working all week on talking during practice and letting each other know when their open," Owens said. "They're doing a great job of reading what's given to them and overall we're doing a great job of shooting the ball."
The Argo's top offensive threat in this particular game was sophomore Sigman Farmer III who made 8 of 11 shots for 18 points. Lockett and junior Issac Howard each came off the bench to score 13 while starters Malik Barnes and Sergio Berkley each scored 12. Berkley led the team with six assists and Lockett led the team with eight rebounds.
The win puts the Argo's record at 12-14 (5-12) which is good enough for a sixth place finish and playoff spot in the Frontier Conference. UGF still has one more game to play before the end of the regular season and it will be a tough test against (6) Lewis-Clark State College at home on Saturday, Feb. 27 for Senior Night.
