LEWISTON, Idaho – Despite missing its first 16 shots from the field and scoring just six points in the first 10 minutes of the game, the Lewis-Clark State College men’s basketball team shot lights out during the final 30 minutes to claim a hard fought 68-64 win over Montana Tech in Frontier Conference action at the LCSC Activity Center on Thursday night. 

The win snapped a two-game losing streak for LCSC, which remains in the thick of the conference title hunt at 8-3 in league play and 17-8 overall. Montana Tech lost its 10th straight game to fall to 1-10 in the conference and 5-20 overall. 

Despite 15 missed shots, three offensive fouls, and three turnovers to start the game, LCSC connected on 27 of its next 42 shots for 64.3 percent accuracy. LCSC was 17-of-26 in the second half for 65.4 percent. 

Freshman Andrew Packwood scored LCSC’s first basket from the field with 10:20 remaining in the first half. Prior to that point, the Warriors scored the first four points of the game on free throws, but Montana Tech rattled off the next 14 points and went on a 20-4 run for a 20-8 lead. LCSC, however, responded with an 11-0 run and outscored Tech 19-8 to cut the margin to 28-27 at halftime. 

The game of streaks continued in the second half as LCSC scored the first six points, but Tech answered with a 9-0 run. LCSC scored the next eight points, but another Tech run eventually tied the game at 46 with 8:28 remaining. 

LCSC then took the lead for good on Rob Comer’s 3-pointer, and back-to-back dunks by 6-foot guard Napoleon Gordon put the Warriors up by 11. 

Montana Tech again rallied and a basket by Dusan Veselinovic with 23 seconds left cut the lead to 64-62, but Mike Gordy and Gordon both hit a pair of free throws down the stretch to ice the game. 

Gordy led LCSC with 28 points and nine rebounds. The 6-5 senior forward, who was co-Player of the Year in the conference last season, was 11-of-21 from the field. Comer added 14 points, while Gordon had 12, along with four assists, three dunks, and two steals. 

Dirk Anderson had a double-double for Tech with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while Shea Bradshaw led five Orediggers in double figures with 12 points. 

LCSC plays its final home game of the season on Saturday night at 8 p.m. against Montana Western. Six seniors – Gordy, Comer, Jonathan Daly, Karl Stedman, Justin Fraser, and Caleb Orr will be honored prior to the game.