BUTTE – Both squads played strong defense on Kelvin Sampson Court Friday night, but the No. 18 Northern Lights scored more points in the end topping the Diggers 59-48.

Montana Tech came within three with 4:42 left on an Adam Greger jump shot 44-41. The Lights would hold Tech to just four points the rest of the game.

Montana Tech (14-11, 5-6) drops a game after winning their last three.

Northern (20-5, 8-3) wins their second straight to remain in the top three of the Frontier Conference.

The Lights outrebounded the Orediggers 33-26 and hit 15 of 23 from the charity stripe.

Tech shot 41.3-percent from the field in the game, but only mustered 20-percent from beyond the arc hitting just two treys.

Greger led the Orediggers with 17 points on 7of 11 shooting. He also had six rebounds and a block.

Bryan Bock was the only other Oredigger in double-digits with 10 points. He also had two rebounds and two blocks.

Corbin Pearson led Northern with 12 points, seven rebounds and a block.

Montana Tech is home again tomorrow night when they host Lewis-Clark State at Kelvin Sampson Court.