HAVRE, Mont. – After allowing nearly 90 points per game in their first two contests, the Bushnell defense responded on Monday with a 17-3 advantage in turnovers, knocking off Montana State-Northern, 66-61 to end their season-opening road trip at 2-1.  
 
The Beacons (1-1) shot 42% in the game and struggled from the three-point line with just one triple on ten attempts. They were out-rebounded 42-27, but a 20-4 margin in points off turnovers proved to be the ticket to turning off the Lights.
 
After battling through eight ties and eight lead changes over the first 35 minutes, Bushnell went on a late run to lead by as many as nine points before emerging with the five-point victory.    
 
Head Coach Eddie Alexander said, "Our defense traveled to Havre today. We struggled so much tonight offensively in execution and at the free-throw line in the second half, but we executed with heart defensively. I could not be prouder of finishing a very long road trip with a win. It was a team-win full of winning plays defensively."
 
Cory Johnson (pictured) emerged as the team's leading scorer with 19 points, shooting 7-for-14 from the field. Roy Bunn added ten points as the only other Beacon in double-figures while Luke Smith added nine. Christian Pitcher scored six points and led the team with six rebounds.
 
The Lights (1-1) were led by Cinque Maxwell, scoring a team-high 16 points while Lean Sayers IV added ten points and eight rebounds. Xavier Bailey led all players with ten boards and three assists.
 
Bushnell will hit the road again this Saturday, traveling to face off against NCAA Division II Northwest Nazarene in an Exhibition at 6:00 pm.