GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence men's basketball program defeated MSU-Northern 73-60 Thursday night.
 
MSU-Northern (8-19) scored the first points of the game, but the Argos (15-12) answered back with a bucket from senior Antoine Boyd Jr. to tie the game at two.
 
The Lights were able to build a seven-point lead but UP responded with a layup from senior Jamil Bowles and three from junior Ryan Chavez to cut the Argo deficit to three midways through the half.  
 
The Argos would continue their momentum grabbing a two-point lead behind an and one layup from senior Nikolajs Atanasovs with just over five minutes left.
 
UP was able to hold onto the lead the rest of the half behind another three from Chavez and scores from Atanasovs and freshman Quinn Swanson as the Argos headed into the break leading 33-32. Chavez and Atanasovs led the Argos with seven apiece.
 
Both teams traded baskets to start the second but a layup from Chavez and jumper from senior Mike Wright Jr. put UP ahead by three.
 
UP broke the game open with a 17-6 run after a three from Bowles and buckets from Wright Jr. and Boyd Jr. gave the Argos a 12-point lead midway through the half.
 
The Argos would continue to put pressure on the Lights, only allowing six points over the next seven minutes as UP extended their lead to 14 with three minutes to go.
 
Despite late pressure from Lights UP capped off the game with a slam dunk from Bowles as the Argos defeated MSU-Northern 73-60.
 
Mike Wright Jr. led all scorers with 18 points, Boyd Jr. added 14, while Nikolajs Atanasovs scored 13.
 
The Argos will be back in action Saturday, Feb. 22 when they travel to Butte to face off against #15 Montana Tech for a winner take all matchup for the regular season Frontier Conference Championship. Tip-off is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. in the Kelvin Sampson Gymnasium.