DILLON, Mont. – The University of Providence men's basketball program defeated Montana Western 67-65 Saturday night.

Argos (8-8) scored the first points of the game off a layup from senior Nikolajs Atanasovs, but five straight from the Bulldogs (10-6) put Montana Western ahead by three.  

Both teams traded baskets the entirety of the first half with neither team grabbing a leady by more than three culminating in a tie at 28. Atanasovs and senior Jamil Bowles led the way with eight points apiece in the first half.

There were four lead changes over the first five minutes of the second half until a pair of threes from the Bulldogs gave Montana Western a 43-37 lead.

The Argos slowly cut into the lead with three-pointers by senior Antoine Boyd Jr. and junior Ryan Chavez to tie the game at 53 midways through the second half.

UP continued their momentum scoring another six straight behind layups from Bowles and Atanasovs to give the Argos a 64-58 lead.

Despite a late three from Montana Western to cut the lead to two, the Bulldogs could not close the gap as the Argos moved to 2-1 in Frontier Conference play with a 67-65 victory.

The Argos will be back in action Thursday, Jan. 16 when they host MSU-Northern. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. in the McLaughlin Center.