GREAT FALLS, Mont. – No. 23 Argo men's basketball flexed their muscles on Saturday evening as they cruised to a dominant 112-69 victory over the Montana Western Bulldogs.
 
Five Argos scored in double-digits with Brandon Cotton leading the way with 22 points. Cotton also tallied four assists, two steals, and two rebounds. Jacob Wetzel tallied his third double-double of the season, netting 17 points and grabbing 10 boards. Austin Starr, Jalen Shepard, and Jaxen Hashley rounded out the Argos in double-digits with 14 points, 12 points, and 12 points, respectively.
 
Montana Western's Troy Scott and Kooper Kidgell led the Bulldogs with 13 points apiece. Scott also garnered seven rebounds and an assist in the loss, while Kidgell pulled down two boards as well.
 
The Bulldogs and Argos traded points over the first four minutes of play with the Bulldogs leading at the 15:58 minute mark, 11-9. Starr knocked down a three to give the Argos a one-point lead, 12-11. The Argos went on a 14-5 run to take a double-digit lead with 12 minutes remaining in the first, 26-16. Over the next four minutes of clock, the Argos would extend their lead to 16, but the Bulldogs would eventually diminish the deficit back under 10 at the eight-minute mark, 33-24. The Bulldogs would keep the Argos lead at nine with five minutes to go, 41-32. However, the Argos would close out the period on a 13-0 run to take a huge 22-point lead headed into the break, 54-32.
 
Following the first five minutes of the second half, the Argos pushed their lead to 30 following a 16-8 run, 70-40. The Argos would extend their lead to a 40-point advantage at the 9:48-minute mark to lead 87-47. With four minutes remaining in the game, the Argos continued to pile it on as they would lead by 50, 106-56. The Bulldogs would bring the deficit down to 43 before the Argos would claim the win, 112-69.
 
Up Next
The Argos will return to McLaughlin for a midweek matchup against the MSU-Northern Lights on Tuesday, January 8 at 7:30 p.m.