BILLINGS, Mont. – The University of Providence men's basketball program defeated #19 Rocky Mountain College 79-74 Thursday night.

The Argos (10-9) scored the first five points of the game off a layup from senior Nikolajs Atanasovs and a three from senior Jamil Bowles to put UP ahead 5-0.

Over the next seven minutes the Battlin' Bears (15-4) slowly cut into the lead tying the game at 12, but the Argos answered with a 16-0 run behind baskets from senior Antoine Boyd Jr. and Mike Wright Jr. to take a 30-14 lead.

The Argos maintained that edge the rest of the half as UP went into the break leading 35-19. Boyd Jr. led all scorers with 13 points in the first half.

UP opened the scoring in the second half to extend the lead to 18 and following a pair of baskets from the Battlin' Bears, a three-pointer from Boyd Jr. put UP in front 42-23.

Rocky Mountain College responded with a 13-2 run, but a tip-in by senior Jamil Bowles made it 48-38 with just under 13 minutes remaining.

The Battlin' Bears would continue their momentum scoring another five straight to cut the Argo lead to six, but a pair of free throws from Atanasovs made it 55-47.

Each side went back-and-forth over the next six minutes until a three from Boyd Jr. and free throws from Bowles gave the Argos a 67-54 edge with four minutes remaining.

Rocky Mountain College would cut the lead to six with just under a minute left but a layup from freshman Quinn Swanson secured the Argos victory as UP defeated #19 Rocky Mountain College 79-74.

Antoine Boyd Jr. led the way for the Argos with 28 points and Jamil Bowles added 25 points and 15 rebounds.

The Argos will be back in action Jan. 25 when they host Carroll College. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. in the McLaughlin Center.