BUTTE, Mont. – Argo basketball needed this game. The University of Great Fall's squad entered its road contest against Montana Tech on a nine-game losing streak and a loss to Tech would move the Argos behind the Orediggers in the Frontier Conference standings and out of the conference's final playoff spot.
 
The Argos had to overcome a 13-point deficit, but avoided a potentially crippling loss in the end, beating Tech 77-73. Not only was the win crucial for UGF's playoff chances, but it was also critical for the team's moral and mindset.
 
"When you lose nine straight, it just takes its toll. So, I think getting the guys back to a point where they feel they can win is huge," UGF Head Coach Anthony Owens said.
 
From the opening tip, there was something different about the Argos. That difference a scoring presence in the post. All year, UGF mainly relied on drives and outside shooting in its half-court offense, but in the first two minutes of the game, forward John Makkar established himself in the paint.
 
The senior missed the first half of the season for UGF, and looked like his strong aggressive self for the first time this season. Makkar scored the first 5 points for the game for the Argos and came away with two steals in the first three minutes.
 
"I think it's taken him a little while to get in the swing of things, but he was just aggressive tonight," Owens said. "He took what was given to him and he didn't turn it over. He's a good big and he did what he needed to do tonight."
 
Despite Makkar's efforts on both sides of the ball, an early Argo lead slipped away at the hands of a clicking Oredigger offense in the first half.
 
Tech shot 48 percent from the field, 33 percent from three, and 90 percent from the free-throw line in the first, while the Argos shot 37 percent and failed to make a three. Both teams finished the half with 6 turnovers and Tech ended the half with three more rebounds.
 
All those advantages added up to an 11-point Oredigger advantage at the end of the first and UGF's chances of ending it's losing streak looked bleak.
 
"I really called our guy out at halftime as far as questioning if they really wanted it. I needed some guys that would fight," Owens said. "We were allowing them to do everything they wanted to in that first half."
 
UGF showed the kind of fight Owens wanted with a barrage of 3-point shots to start the second half. The first came from senior forward Isaac Howard a minute into the period and junior guard Jared Schultz added two more over the next two minutes to highlight a 13-5 Argo run to bring Tech's lead from 13 points to 5.
 
With the offense finding a scoring touch for the first time in weeks, Owens subbed in junior Treyvon Bashir to shore up the defensive side of the ball. With the forward on the floor, UGF's defensive communication and energy dramatically improved and Tech missed five of its next six shot attempts.
 
By the time that stretch was over, UGF held the lead, 57-55 and had all the momentum. Giving the Argos its first lead of the second half was another three, this time from junior Matthew Brooks-McGregor. The guard made two threes of two straight possessions and with six minutes left in the half, UGF led by 8.
 
That's when the fear of blowing a crucial game sank in. Tech hit three straight 3-point shots in the following minute and a half while the Argo's distance shooters went cold. With 3:36 left on the clock, the score was tied at 70.
 
After that a lid went on both baskets but Makkar and Bashir each scored 3 points, 4 of which came at the free-throw line, to give the Argos a 76-70 lead with 14 second left. That lead should have been comfortable, but the Argos fouled on a 3-point shot with two second left to keep the game interesting till the final buzzer.
 
All the numbers that favored Tech through the first 20 minutes, favored UGF in the second half. The Argos shot better from the floor, from three, and from the charity stripe, while out-rebounding the Orediggers 21-17.
 
Perhaps the biggest difference was how each team took care of the ball. In the second half, the Argos only had 3 turnovers, while they forced Tech into 7. Tech's turnovers then turned into points for UGF. The Argos finished the game with 23 points off turnovers, including 14 in the second half, while the Diggers managed just 9.
 
UGF's 40 percent shooting from three was the team's best since January 13 and the team's 9 turnovers was its lowest total since December 21.
 
Makkar finished the game with 14 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks, and 2 assists for his first double-double of the season and second of his career.
 
Thanks to his two three and an ability to get to the free-throw line, Schultz led the Argos in scoring with 17 points along with a team leading 4 assists.
 
With a record of 11-13 (3-10), UGF now holds a two-game lead over Tech for sixth place in the Frontier standings, plus the tiebreaker with a 2-1 head-to-head record. UGF's next test will be a road game against (RV) Lewis-Clark State College on Saturday, February 11 at 8:30 p.m. MT.