GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence men's hockey program defeated Utah State 5-3 Thursday night.

The Aggies (6-7) scored the first goal of the game 25 seconds into the contest, but the Argos (6-3) answered midway through the period when junior Kage Yellowfly picked off a pass in the offensive zone and found senior AJ Belanger whose one-timer went top corner to tie the game at one.

The Argos continued their momentum a few minutes later when Yellowfly drove the net and beat the goaltender one-on-one to put UP ahead 2-1, but the Aggies answered to tie the game at two heading into the second period.

Both sides went back-and-forth over the first 10 minutes of the second period until on a power-play for the Argos Belanger found senior Chavez Constant at the top of the point and his wrist shot beat the goaltender to put UP in front 3-2.

The Argos added another goal a few minutes later when Belanger sent the puck to the net and it was tipped to freshman Devante Pratt-Fry whose back-handed chip squeezed past the goaltender to give UP a 4-2 lead heading into the third.

Utah State added a goal four minutes into the third period, but with six minutes remaining junior Jamal Shaw sent a puck to the net, and it ricocheted around to senior Jamal Kalaf whose wrist shot found the back of the net to put UP in front 5-3.

The Aggies pressured down the stretch with a 6-4 opportunity with the goaltender pulled, but the Argos defense stood strong as UP defeated Utah State 5-3.

The Argos will be back in action on Friday, Oct. 30 when they host the University of Utah in Great Falls at 7:30 p.m.