Great Falls, Mont. – All four of the University of Providence men's basketball team's senior guards made critical plays in the final 10 minutes of a much-needed 70-62 win over Montana Tech. The Orediggers led most of the night, and with just under three minutes to go it was still a one-possession game, but 2 huge threes from senior Sergio Berkley created enough separation for UP to pull out its second win in three games.
 
"We had some tough times and we trailed most of the game, but the guys stuck with it like we've talked about and we ended up getting it done," Head Coach Anthony Owens said. "Defensively, we came together. The communication was there. Even with how loud it was in the gym tonight, you could still hear our guys talking and that's what we teach."
 
The night started well for UP, as senior point guard DuShaun Rice picked up where he left off in the team's solo second half against Tech where he scored each of the team's last 9 points. An early three from Rice put the team up by five, but a few missed shots and then back-to-back turnovers gave the Diggers an opportunity to take the lead back.
 
With 13:33 on the clock, Tech's John Chapman, who killed the Argos the previous night, scored to give the Diggers a 10-9 lead that it would hold for most of the half. UP managed to tied the score three times before the final buzzer, including a layup from senior forward Steven Daho-Clark that evened things at 28-28 heading into the half.
 
After Tech led or was tied for the last 13 minutes of the first half, and first 9 minutes of the second half, the Argos turned the momentum on great plays at both ends from senior Jared Schultz. The guard started with a steal on the defensive end, while the Diggers held a 3 point lead. He then tied the game eight second later on his first 3-point field goal of the night. 
 
With the score tied at 46-46 both teams' offenses came grinding to a halt and for the next two minutes no one could break the deadlock. Finally, the ball came back to Schultz and he hit a midrange jumper to put the Argos ahead for the first time since six minutes into the first half. 
 
Less than a minute later Tech took back the lead on a three, but senior guard Matthew Brooks-McGregor scored the game's next 4 points to answer. That put the score at 52-49 Argos with five minutes to go. For the rest of the half, Rice, Schultz, and Berkley would score all of  UP  points.
 
While the other two each made important plays down the stretch, Berkley was the catalyst for finishing off the Diggers. His first big play came with just under two minutes left and UP leading by 5. He was on the receiving end of a pass just as the shot clock kept towards zero, and with no other option left, he rose up for a contested three that swished through the net.
 
On the Argo's next possession, Daho-Clark and Rice combined to pull down a big rebound and a chance to run the game clock down to almost 30 seconds. Instead of hold the ball, Berkley took what seemed like an ill-advised three, but he drained it again and gave UP a 9 point lead with under a minute to go.  
 
"He's big for us period. He's a big part of our offense and when he's got his mind right and moving the basketball and attacking when he should attack he's huge for us," Owens said of Berkley. "He's a big offensive threat. He and Rice and some of the other guards are really coming along."
 
Shooting 6-7 from the field, 2-3 from three, and 7-8 from the free-throw line, Berkley led the Argos with 21 points, 15 of which came in the second half. Fellow senior DuShaun Rice had an equally impactful performance with 16 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Schultz also reached double-digits, scoring 10 points.
 
The win avenges a loss to Tech just the night prior and gives the Argos two wins in the past three games, bringing the team's record to 9-9 (3-5). Another home game will be next for the Argos, this time hosting (16) University of Montana-Western on January 26 at 7:30 p.m.