Lights upset Bruins in Frontier Men's Basketball Quarterfinals

BUTTE, Mont. — Seventh-seed MSU-Northern shot better than 50 percent from the field and rode a dominant bench effort to an 83-74 upset win over second-seed Bellevue (Neb.) on Friday night in the Frontier Conference men’s basketball postseason tournament quarterfinal round at the Butte Civic Center.

The Lights built a 42-33 halftime lead and never trailed after the break, finishing 26-for-50 (52 percent) from the floor and 11-for-25 (44 percent) from 3-point range. MSU-Northern also controlled the game with its depth, outscoring Bellevue’s bench 42-15 and keeping the Bruins at arm’s length despite a strong push in the second half.

Luke Holecek led MSU-Northern with 20 points on 6-for-10 field goal shooting, going 6-for-6 at the free-throw line. He was joined in double figures by Austin Ramos with 17 points and five rebounds and Tracen Jilot with 15 points and five boards. Ramos and Jilot combined for five 3-pointers, helping fuel the Lights’ perimeter advantage and providing key answers whenever Bellevue threatened to close the gap.

MSU-Northern began to separate late in the first quarter. Leading 26-20, Ramos drilled a 3-pointer with 5:04 left in the period to make it 29-20, and the Lights continued to stretch the margin behind efficient half-court execution. In the closing seconds of the half, Jilot buried a 3 from the wing to push the lead to 42-28, and MSU-Northern took a 42-33 advantage into the locker room after a late Bellevue basket.

Bellevue stayed in striking distance behind the play of Jaden Phillips and RJ Smith. Phillips finished with a game-high 22 points, including 2-for-4 shooting from beyond the arc and a 4-for-4 mark at the line, while Smith added 15 points, nine rebounds and a block. The Bruins shot 43.8 percent from the field (28-for-64 field goals) and 40 percent from 3-point arc (6-for-15), and they matched the Lights with 31 total rebounds, including an 8-4 edge on the offensive glass.

Each time Bellevue made a run, MSU-Northern’s perimeter shooting responded. Early in the second quarter with the margin down to single digits, Jilot connected on another 3-pointer to extend the lead to 56-48 at the 12:48 mark. In the final minute, with Bellevue still within two possessions, Claysen Delp calmly sank a pair of free throws to make it 78-70 with 27 seconds left. After a quick answer from the Bruins, Ramos hit two more free throws with 22 seconds remaining to push the lead to 80-72 and effectively seal the outcome.

MSU-Northern finished 20-for-27 (74.1 percent) at the foul line, while Bellevue went 12-for-15 (80.0 percent). The Bruins committed just five turnovers to the Lights’ eight, but MSU-Northern’s shooting efficiency, 10 assists on 26 field goals and the 27-23 edge in defensive rebounds helped offset Bellevue’s advantages in offensive boards and steals.

The victory advances the Lights (17-12 overall record) in the Frontier Conference tournament semifinals Sunday against Saturday's winner between Dakota State (S.D.) and Carroll (Mont.)

Bellevue’s (22-7 overall record) season hinges on potential postseason at-large opportunities for the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament.