Warriors wash over Great Falls; Burnett keys 77-67 win in home debut
Copyright The Trib

After his fourth game in a Lewis-Clark State uniform, Jonathan Burnett drew a very subtle comparison to Martin Brothers. That's pretty heady company in the Warriors' little universe.

Burnett, a 6-foot guard who became active at the end of the fall semester, helped L-C hash out a 77-67 victory over Great Falls. It was the Warriors' first Frontier Conference game at the Activity Center, and the first time Burnett had played in front of a home crowd.

The junior transfer registered 16 points, five assists and three steals. He also connected on 4 of 4 free throws in the final 81 seconds to hold off the Argos.

Burnett had to complete classes in the fall semester before he could play, but he's been practicing with the Warriors since the summer.

When asked about Burnett's transition to the active roster, LCSC coach Tim Walker mentioned Brothers, who followed a similar path in the 2003-04 season. (Maybe it wasn't surprising that Walker invoked the name of the former Warrior. Brothers, whose career wrapped up last season, was in attendance Thursday.)

"It's not normally that big of an issue," Walker said. "We practiced (Burnett) with the first group, and with the second group. He's had runs with both of those groups, and a number of different combinations the whole semester."

LCSC (14-4, 2-2) also got 19 points and six rebounds from leading scorer Eric Durrett. Chris Pitts and Spencer Bishop chipped in 12 points apiece.

But the Warriors couldn't shake the clingy Argos (8-12, 0-5). LCSC took the lead late in the first half and never relinquished it, but Great Falls was always within striking distance.

The Argos' final uprising was led by Carlos Escoto, who canned a 3-pointer and a mid-range shot to make it 71-65 with 2:58 left. UGF then got the ball to Rashaun Puryear, who had a look at a wide-open triple from the right corner.

But his heave rimmed out, and Durrett grabbed the rebound. The 6-2 junior then rushed to the other end and planted a short jumper.

"Against an athletic team, and a team that shoots the 3, I'm not sure you're ever comfortable," Walker said. "We executed just well enough, took care of the ball just enough times and made enough shots down the stretch to keep it at six, eight, 10 points."

Great Falls was paced by Tyrone Witherspoon, an athletic 6-4 junior who collected 18 points and 11 boards. Puryear and Escoto managed 12 points apiece.

"Give them credit: They played well and kept it close," Walker said of the Argos. "And give our guys credit, too. It wasn't pretty, but we made enough stops and made enough baskets to sneak out of here with one."

NOTES -- Almost immediately after the game ended, setup began for the Clearwater Classic high school wrestling tournament. It will take place today and Saturday at the Activity Center. Then Saturday evening, the Warriors will play a doubleheader against Montana State-Northern.

GREAT FALLS (8-12, 0-5)

Mount 2-5 0-0 4, Puryear 4-8 2-2 12, Gregg 0-3 0-0 0, Witherspoon 7-9 4-5 18, Scott 4-10 3-3 11, Escoto 4-6 1-2 12, Tomlinson 1-3 1-3 4, Pollock 0-0 0-0 0, Jensen 2-2 0-0 4, Fulp 0-1 2-2 2. Totals 24-47 13-17 67.

LEWIS-CLARK STATE (14-4, 2-2)

Pitts 5-8 2-3 12, Durrett 7-17 3-4 19, Scarbrough 2-6 2-2 6, Burnett 5-12 4-4 16, Bishop 3-4 6-6 12, Brooks 0-2 0-0 0, Thompson 2-3 2-2 6, Ward 0-0 0-0 0, Tikker 3-6 0-0 6. Totals 27-58 19-21 77.

Halftime score -- LCSC 42, UGF 32. Three-point goals -- UGF 6-16 (Mount 0-2, Puryear 2-4, Gregg 0-3, Scott 0-1, Escoto 3-5, Tomlinson 1-1); LCSC 4-14 (Durrett 2-5, Scarbrough 0-1, Burnett 2-6, Bishop 0-1, Tikker 0-1). Rebounds -- UGF 28 (Witherspoon 11); LCSC 29 (Scarbrough 7). Assists -- UGF 16 (Gregg 4); LCSC 13 (Burnett 5). Total fouls -- UGF 16; LCSC 16. Technical fouls -- none. Fouled out -- none. Attendance -- 1,253.