BUTTE, Mont. – The University of Providence men's basketball program defeated LC State 81-76 Thursday night.

The Argos (4-2) scored the first field goal of the game when senior Sam Vining found senior Davien Harris-Williams for a three pointer.

Each side would trade buckets with six lead changes over the next four minutes. A pair of three pointers by junior Drayton Caoile and Harris-Williams tied the game at 17.

Neither team would be able to gain a lead by more than three until a layup by Harris-Willaims and free throws by senior Jake Olsen gave UP a 35-30 edge.

Argos would extend their lead to six, but a layup by LC State (1-2) with three seconds left in the half cut the Argo lead to four going into the break. Harris-Williams led the way for UP with 15pts in the first half.

Over the first six minutes of the second half the Warriors went on an 8-2 run to take a 50-48 lead.

UP would respond with a 6-0 run of their own to retake the lead behind threes by senior Eric Milner and junior Kenny Curtis.

LC State would tie the game at 60 with 10 minutes remaining, but layups by senior Jaylin Reed and junior Jamil Bowles gave the Argos a seven-point advantage.

Despite the Warriors cutting the lead to four with 20 seconds left, the Argos hit their free throws down the stretch as they won their first game of the Montana Tech Classic 81-76.

Harris-Williams led the way for the Argos with 24 points and five assists. Reed and Curtis were also in double figures, scoring 13 and 10, respectively.

The Argos will be back in action Nov. 17 when face Dickinson State University in Butte, Mont. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. at Kelvin Sampson Court.