HAVRE, Mont. – Five Argos scored in the double digits as men's basketball defeated Oregon Tech 96-80 on Friday evening in Havre.
 
The Argos (5-1) outshot the Owls (8-2) 50 percent to 29 percent from beyond the arc as they picked up their fifth win of the season.
 
Brandon Cotton led all scorers has he collected 24 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals during the win. Jack Taylor was the Argos second leading scorer with 17 points, followed by Jalen Shepard who filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, seven assists, five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals.
 
The Owls took the early lead as they scored four unanswered to lead 4-0. The Argos responded with four field goals, capped off by Shepard to tie up the match at eight all. The game would remain tied at 12 as both teams scored four. The Argos went on a 7-2 run to take a five-point advantage, but the Owls rallied to close the gap as a Tech three-pointer put the Owls back on top, 22-21. A Cotton three put the game back in the Argos control as they went on a 11-2 stretch to lead by eight, 32-24. The Owls were able to close the gap yet again as they tallied 11 to the Argos three to tie up the game at 35. Four from each side would put things tied at 39. Following a fourth lead change, Austin Starr knocked down a three to put the Argos up by one at 45-44. The Argos closed out the opening half on a 11-4 run to take an eight-point advantage headed into the locker room.
 
A Cotton layup opened the second half to give the Argos their first double-digit lead of the game, 58-48. The Owls close the deficit down to four with 13:58 on the clock, 68-64, but the Argos responded to stretch out the lead back to double digits a minute and a half later, 76-64. The Owls never got closer than 11 points for the remainder of the game as they Argos would eventually lead by 22 but closed out the game with a 16-point victory.
 
Up Next
The Argos continue tournament play in Havre, Montana on Saturday as they take on Portland Bible College at 4 p.m.