GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence men's basketball program defeated MSU-Northern 91-71 Thursday night.

The Northern Lights (6-10) scored the first basket of the game, but the Argos (9-8) responded with 11 straight points behind a pair of jumpers from senior Mike Wright Jr. to go ahead by nine.

MSU-Northern slowly cut into the lead over the next eight minutes tying the game at 15 until three-pointers from junior Ryan Chavez and Wright Jr. put UP in front 21-15.

Both teams would trade baskets but UP outscored MSU-Northern 14-8 the rest of the half as the Argos went into the break leading 43-31. Wright Jr. led all scorers with 19 points in the first half.

The Skylights scored the first basket of the second half, but the Argos quickly answered with a three from senior Antoine Boyd Jr. and a layup from senior Nikolajs Atanasovs to push the lead out to 14.

The Argos quickly extended their lead out to 20, and despite the Skylights cutting the lead to 13 late, the Argos cruised to a 91-71 victory.

Mike Wright Jr. led the way with 24 points and three other Argos reached double-digit scoring in Antoine Boyd Jr. with 16, Ryan Chavez with 15, and Nikolajs Atanasovs with 14.

The Argos will be back in action Saturday Jan. 18 when they travel to Butte, Mont. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. versus #11 Montana Tech.