GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The #10 University of Providence men's basketball team will conclude their regular season with a pair of critical games against top-notch competition.

The Argos (23-5, 11-5) will travel to Helena to take on #17 Carroll (20-8, 11-5) in a game that will decide who will get the #2 seed in the Frontier Conference Tournament. On Saturday, the Argos will return to Great Falls to host Montana State-Northern (18-10, 8-8) for Senior Night.

The Argos are playing their best basketball of the year. The squad has won five of their last six games, coinciding with the decision to move Zaccheus Darko-Kelly to the point guard position. Over the three-week period, Darko-Kelly is averaging 30.8 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game and 7.7 assists per game while shooting 59.5% from the field and 50% from beyond the arc. He is the first men's basketball player ever to win the Frontier Conference Player of the Week award three times in a row and the first player ever to win the NAIA National Player of the Week three times in a row.

The move has benefitted everyone though. Jaxen Hashley has averaged 19.8 ppg and 10.9 rpg. Brandon Cotton has three games over 21 points. Dawson Fowler is averaging 9.8 ppg while Rashee Stocks is averaging 9.7 ppg.

"Everybody has raised their level of play," Keller said. "Hashley the last six games has turned it on. Cotton has played great off the ball. Rashee and Dawon's stats have gone up. It's been a total team effort. We were in a little slump there, and the last six games I feel like we've been playing well again."

The Argos will need to continue the momentum against Carroll on Thursday. Both teams are tied at 11-5 and have won at home against each other. The winner will secure the #2 seed, and potentially two home games in the conference tournament.

"We have to play hard for sure," Keller said. "We have to try and defend them a little bit better. They're very good defensively. Winning on the road is not easy so we have to get after it."

On Saturday the Argos will take on a team with some momentum of their own, as the Lights have won six of their last seven. MSUN has received votes in the latest NAIA National Rankings.

"They're playing at a high-level right now," Keller said. "They want us to play that grind it out, slowed down game so we have to try to get the tempo up."

The night will also double as Senior Night for five seniors of the program. The team will honor seniors Brandon Cotton, Jake Wetzel, Kevin Schilling Jr., Jake Faulkner and KJ Ng.

"Senior Nights are always tough," Keller said. "I'm kind of new to the program. A couple of the seniors were here before I got here. Hopefully we've made some changes that they can see and be glad that they are a part of the program and can see the benefits of the changes. I want them to be proud of their contributions and recognize that they are a part of why the program has gotten better. Hopefully we play well on senior night for them."