GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence men's basketball team gets a nice break from the Montana winter as they prepare for the Cactus Classic in Chandler, Arizona.w
The tournament consists of a majority of the Frontier Conference teams and a handful of teams from around the country.
"This tournament allows us to play some different people that we haven't played," head coach
Steve Keller said. "We want to play somebody different and that we haven't seen. We want to come down here and get some games and nice weather."
The Argos are off to a hot start to the 2019-2020 season. They are currently ranked 7
th in the nation after starting the season at an undefeated record of 9-0. The Argos are currently in the top 10 in steals (2
nd), assists (3
rd), assist to turnover ratio (3
rd), three-point field goal percentage (3
rd), free throw percentage (3
rd), turnover margin (4
th), scoring offense (5
th) and three-point field goals made (9
th).
Offensively,
Zaccheus Darko-Kelly leads the way with 21.1 points, 6.8 rebounds a game, and 4.8 assists per game.
Brandon Cotton contributes 13.8 points a game, while
Joel Thabize contributes 10.3.
The Argos will have a test in their first game of the Cactus Classic, when they take on Marian University at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Knights (8-2) are currently ranked 8
th in the latest NAIA DII poll.
"Marian is very good," Keller said. "They shoot the 3. They got a good inside guy. They are going to be a handful. It's going to be a good game. There's going to be some good games for us."
