Great Falls, MT - Friday proved not to be the night for an upset as the #10-ranked Westminster Griffins (17-5, 7-1) bested the University of Great Falls Argonauts 55-42 at the McLaughlin Center. The Argos came in, having won two of their last three and primed for an upset bid against the current conference leader, but a slow pace and Westminster's grind-it-out style proved to be too much as the Griffins won their 24^th consecutive meeting with the Argos; UGF (6-16, 2-6) has never beaten the Salt Lake City-school.

"That game was there to be had. We just couldn't score enough to make a late push at them," said UGF head coach Steve Silsby. "It's no secret. We struggle to score the ball. We hold the number ten team in the country to 55 points tonight. That's 15 below their season average. And because we struggle to score the outcome is what it is. What more can you ask for defensively?"

The Argos opened up the game in control and built an early 11-5 advantage. The home-standing Argos remained in control for much of the opening stanza until a late Westminster rally gave the visitors a 27-20 edge heading into halftime.

The Griffins opened the second half with another run, building on their seven-point lead. The Argos looked frustrated by the lack of results at the offensive end and it cost them on defense during the stretch. Westminster would open the lead to as many as 20 points in the second half. Once the Argos got a few shots to drop in, it was too late.

Big man Ben Walker (Lehi, UT) led the Griffins with 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting. Senior guard Weston Anderson (Salt Lake City, UT) chipped in with 14 points and was the only other Griffin to reach double figures. Junior guard Michael Stockton (Spokane, WA) notched eight points, seven rebounds and three assists on the night.

L.J. Jones (Anaheim, CA) and Lukas Hambsch (Chandler, AZ) paced the Argos with 10 points apiece. No other Argo could muster more than six points. Sophomore forward JayTee Tarpley (Dubois, ID) led the Argos on the backboard with six rebounds.

UGF will play host to Lewis-Clark State (11-11, 2-6) on Saturday night at the McLaughlin Center. The winner will grab sole possession of sixth place in the conference standings with a chance to be in a tie for fifth if Carroll College falls at Montana Tech tonight.