Jason Walker, University of Providence Sports Information
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - The winning streak is four straight for the University of Providence men after the Argos defeated Montana Western 95-89 Saturday in Frontier Conference action in Great Falls.
Providence trailed by five early in the first half as Grayson Nelson scored four quick points and Brenton Woods added an old-fashioned three-point play to give the Bulldogs a 7-2 lead just over two minutes into the game. The Argos responded with a 10-0 run over the next two and a half minutes to take a 10-7 lead. Providence would lead by as many as 13 before taking a 44-32 lead into the locker room.
Marcus Stephens scored 17 points in the first 20 minutes and the Argos hit 17 of 34 from the field in building the momentum before half.
The lead was 19 just two minutes into the second half when Montana Western (8-13, 3-5) got back into the game. The Bulldogs would respond with a 13-2 run over the next three minutes to cut the deficit to eight. Providence got the lead back to 18 at the midway point of the half, but over the next nine minutes, Western trimmed the Argo lead to three with 37 seconds remaining. The Argos would go 7 of 10 in the closing seconds to secure the sixth Frontier win in eight games this season.
Jamal Stephenson led the 'Dawgs with 19 points including a 4-7 effort from beyond the arc. Woods and Jaden Graham each scored 14, Ky Kouba and Michael Haverfield each added 12. Western shot 31 of 61 (50.8%) from the field, 12-28 from the three-point line, and made 15 of 20 free throws.
Providence finished at 51.5% (34-66), 11-29 from three and 16 of 24 at the line. Stephens scored a game-high 30 points with seven rebounds and four steals to go along with three assists. Davien Harris-Williams added 22 points including five triples. Sam Vining added 15 points, Jake Olsen scored 14 with six boards, and Eric Milner chipping in with 14 points.
The Argos have won six of seven since a five-game losing streak in December to sit 6-2 in the Frontier, 12-9 overall moving into a first-place tie atop the conference standings with No. 12 Montana Tech. Providence will travel to Butte Thursday looking to even the season series. The Orediggers defeated the Argos 95-82 earlier this month.
