GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The Lewis-Clark State College men’s basketball team suffered a serious blow to its Frontier Conference title hopes on Saturday when the University of Great Falls beat the Warriors for only the second time in school history with an 83-69 triumph. 

Great Falls entered the game having lost nine of its first 10 conference games this season and in last place in the conference, while LCSC was tied for first in the loss column with Westminster and Rocky Mountain, as well as being ranked No. 13 in the country. 

Great Falls is 2-9 in conference play and 8-15 overall, while the Warriors suffered their second straight loss and third in its last five games to fall to 7-3 in conference and 16-8 overall.  It also marks the first time this season the defending conference champions have not been at least tie for first place in the conference in the loss column. 

Great Falls defeated LCSC two years ago in Great Falls for the program’s only other win over the Warriors. LCSC joined the Frontier Conference in 1999, and Great Falls followed a year later. 

The Argonauts set the tone for the game in the first half when they shot nearly 60 percent from the field and opened up a 52-38 halftime lead. The 52 points is the most allowed in the first half by LCSC this season and also was more points than Great Falls scored in a 71-45 setback to the Warriors on Jan. 10 in Lewiston. In that game, UGF was just 16-of-48 from the field in the game.

On Saturday, the Argos hit 20 field goals in the first half when they went 20-of-34 from the field, including a 6-of-12 mark at the 3-point line.  LCSC also shot the ball well, hitting 13-of-24 in the opening half, 54 percent, but also committed 12 turnovers, which led to more shot opportunities for the Argonauts. 

Great Falls scored the first five points of the second half to open up a 57-38 lead. The Argonauts led by as much as 23 with 12 minutes left and the Warriors could get no closer than 12 the rest of the way. 

For the game, Great Falls was 30-of-58 from the field for 52 percent. 

Mike Gordy led LCSC with 25 points, while Rob Comer added 19. Rayshaun Ames was one of four Great Falls players in double figures with 25 points. 

LCSC is now 2-8 on the season when allowing 66 or more points in a game. 

The Warriors wrap up the home portion of their schedule this week when they play host to Montana Tech on Thursday and Montana Western on Saturday. Both games are at 8 p.m. The Montana Western game will serve as Senior Night and the Warriors will honor their six seniors –Comer, Jonathan Daly, Justin Fraser, Gordy, Caleb Orr, and Karl Stedman.