Warriors can't hold onto early lead, fall to Argos
Copyright The Trib

After leading by double digits early on, the Warriors tumbled to an 82-73 Frontier Conference defeat to Great Falls.

This was L-C's fourth consecutive loss, dropping it to 12-14 overall and 5-7 in the FC. The Warriors' previous two setbacks came on last-second baskets by their opponents.

But this loss was against Great Falls, which is last in the conference at 9-18 and 2-11.

"That was the question we posed in the locker room: Where we do go from here?" LCSC coach Tim Walker said. "We've got lot of season left -- two home games coming, a tournament, a lot to play for.

"Our health is good; we've got to work on our mentality," he added. "That's the thing that's bruised right now. The only way to get out of this hole is to fight and scratch and claw."

Jared Tikker's 14 points led the Warriors, who had three other players in double figures.

The Argos were led by Rashaun Puryear, who hit all seven of his floor tries and scored 17 points. Tyrone Witherspoon added 16 points.

LCSC closes the regular season at home next week with games against Montana Tech and Montana-Western.

LEWIS-CLARK STATE (12-14, 5-7)

Burnett 3-8 3-3 9, Bishop 6-6 1-1 13, Durret 2-2 0-0 4, Brooks 2-7 0-0 4, Scarbrough 4-8 0-0 12, Orr 0-0 0-0 0, Thompson 0-1 0-0 0, Ward 2-2 0-0 6, Pitts 5-6 1-3 11, Tikker 6-12 2-2 14. Totals 30-52 7-9 73.

GREAT FALLS (9-18, 2-11)

Tomlinson 0-2 2-3 2, Escoto 3-4 0-0 9, Mount 0-0 0-0 0, Puryear 7-7 2-2 17, Gregg 1-1 4-4 7, Pollock 0-0 2-2 2, Jensen 6-6 1-1 13, Witherspoon 7-10 2-2 16, Fulp 1-2 0-0 2, Scott 4-11 6-9 14. Totals 29-38 19-23 82.

Halftime -- UGF 36-33. Three-point goals -- LCSC 6-23 (Burnett 0-7, Bishop 0-3, Durret 0-1, Scarbrough 4-7, Thompson 0-1, Ward 2-2, Tikker 0-2), UGF 5-18 (Tomlinson 0-7, Escoto 3-4, Puryear 1-3, Gregg 1-1, Witherspoon 0-1, Scott 0-2). Rebounds -- LCSC 17 (Scarbrough 5), UGF 32 (Gregg 8). Assists -- LCSC 14 (Burnett 4, Scarbrough 4), UGF 16 (Gregg 9). Fouls -- LCSC 18, UGF 15. Fouled out -- Pitts.