MSU-Northern lost to Montana Western 77–70 in a Frontier Conference match up Friday night in Dillon.
The game opened with both teams trading early baskets as Northern looked to establish its presence inside. Leon Sayers IV scored early and often for the Lights, helping Northern keep pace through the opening minutes. Montana Western countered with perimeter shooting, as Kyle Gruhler knocked down an early three to spark the Bulldogs offensively.
Neither team was able to create much separation in the first half. Northern briefly grabbed the lead behind scoring from Tracen Jilot and Raefe McEnroe, but Western responded with timely shooting and ball movement. A three-pointer midway through the half swung momentum back to the Bulldogs, and the teams went into halftime locked in a 37–37 tie after a tightly contested opening 20 minutes.
Coming out of the break, Montana Western began to find its rhythm offensively. Emanuel Steward orchestrated the offense, creating opportunities for both himself and his teammates, while Gruhler continued to connect from beyond the arc. Western's shooting efficiency allowed the Bulldogs to slowly build a multi-possession lead.
Northern refused to go away, as Sayers attacked the basket and Jilot provided scoring to keep the game within reach. Claysen Delp facilitated the offense and helped the Lights stay competitive late into the second half.
In the final minutes, Montana Western maintained control with strong defensive possessions and timely scoring. The Bulldogs limited Northern's comeback chances and closed out the game from the free-throw line to secure the seven-point victory.
Gruhler led Montana Western with 19 points, while Steward added 18 points, six rebounds, and six assists in a well-rounded performance. Joshua Whiteside provided an important spark off the bench with 11 points.
For Montana State-Northern, Sayers IV finished with a game-high 22 points. Jilot added 15 points, and Delp contributed 11 points and eight assists in the loss.
The Lights fall to 10-6 overall and 5-5 in Conference. The Lights play tomorrow against Montana Tech at 7pm.
