GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence men's basketball program defeated MSU-Northern 75-65 Thursday night.

The Argos (14-13) would score the first basket of the game off a push-shot from senior Jake Olsen but a three-pointer from the Lights (11-16) gave MSU-Northern a 3-2 lead.

Free throws from the Skylights pushed their lead out to three but a layup from Olsen and a three-pointer from senior Sam Vining put the Argos ahead by two.

The Skylights would retake the lead by one until a dunk by Olsen and a step-back jumper from senior Jevon Burton put the Argos ahead by four.

Both teams would trade baskets over the next seven minutes with neither team gaining a lead by more than four until a free throw by Olsen and a three from Harris-Williams put the Argos ahead 29-22 with five minutes remaining in the half.

UP would continue their momentum with a three from Burton but an and one from MSU-Northern made it 32-25.

Both sides would go back and forth the rest of the half but a 6-0 run from the Argos behind a jumper from Vining and a layup from Harris-Williams put the Argos ahead 42-31 going into the break. Olsen led the way for the Argos with 10 points and six rebounds in the first half.  

MSU-Northern would hit a pair of free throws to open the second half but a layup from Vining kept the Argos ahead by 11.

The Lights were able to cut the Argo lead to seven but an 8-0 run behind threes from Vining and senior Jaylin Reed made it 54-41 five minutes into the second half.

Both teams would go up and down until a layup from Burton increased the Argo lead to 15 midways through the second half.

After baskets from both sides a pair of three-point plays from the Lights shortened the Argo lead to nine.

A layup from Harris-Williams would push the UP lead back out to 11 and following a three from the Lights, a layup from Vining made it 71-61 with three minutes remaining.

The Argos would increase their lead to 12 and despite a late run from the Lights, UP defeated MSU-Northern 75-65.

The Argos will be back in action Feb. 24 for the regular season finale against Montana Tech. Tip-off versus the Orediggers is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the McLaughlin Center.