Story of the Game:
The MSU-Northern Lights lost their first game at the Cactus Classic Tournament against Hope International University 68-63 on Saturday in Arizona. The Lights took the lead early in the first half. Hope University went on a 9-0 run to take the lead 29-26. The kept the lead going into half time 34-29. Hope extended the lead to 18 with 9:23 left on the clock. The Lights went on a 15-0 run to cut the lead to three with a 1:41 to play. Hope scored five points down the stretch to take the game.

Individual Stats:
The Lights were led by Jesse Keltner just shy of a double-double with 18 points and eight rebounds. Tanner McCliment-Call added 16 points going 40 percent from the three-point line. Myles Dalton added 11 points.
 
Hope International University were led by Charles Neal with 16 points going 3-6 from three, and adding eight rebounds. Jalani Horn and Gaven Ramirez each added 14 points. Rasheet Wilson led the team in assists with eight.

Stats of the Game:
The MSU-Northern Lights shot a field goal percentage of 37, 32 percent from the arc, and 69 percent from the free throw line.
 
Hope shot 41 percentage from the field, 31 percent from the 3-point line, and 64 percent from the free throw.
 
The Lights so Far:
The Lights are 8-3 in the overall season and 1-1 in Conference.
 
Up Next:
The Lights will have a day's rest and will play on Monday December 19 against Vanguard University at 10 a.m. Northern will play their last game in Arizona on December 20 against Masters University at 2 p.m.