Deon Lyle and Emmanuel “Manny” Izunabor scored 69 of the Great Falls Electric’s (7-5) 128 points to help guide their team to their seventh win of the 2026 The Basketball League season. The 128-111 gave Great Falls the weekend sweep over the Tri-Cities (WA) Sun Devils (2-6) on Saturday night at St. Patrick’s Academy’s Wiegand Center in front of a nice Easter crowd showing their support for the home team.
Manny Izunabor and Bilal Richardson each scored during the first three minutes of the game to put the Electric on top, 6-0. Ayoni Benavidez’s layup gave the Sun Devils their first points of the contest. Troy Mix Jr., who began the season with the Great Falls Electric, and Donovan Sanor each knocked down long-distance shots to even the game (8-8) with 7:36 left on the game clock. Mix Jr. scored again on a jumper 31 seconds later to put the Washington state squad out in front, 10-8. A Deon Lyle dunk and a Cooper Dewitt three-pointer put Great Falls back in the lead, 13-10. Dewitt was playing in his second game with Great Falls after starting the season with the TBL’s Grant County (WA) Red Tails. The Pasco, Washington native played collegiately for Montana State University – Billings (MT). Great Falls stayed ahead on the scoreboard until there was 3:51 left when Ayoni Benavidez scored to tie the game at 18-18. Tri-Cities would lead by five points (26-21) with two minutes left on a field goal by Troy Mix Jr. Rodarious “Pig” Washington, Manny Izunabor, Deon Lyle, and Cooper Dewitt each contributed baskets to put the home team ahead, 31-30 after the first quarter.
The second quarter started with a 6-0 run highlighted by baskets from Cooper Dewitt, Manny Izunabor, and Livingston, Montana native Brendon Johnson. Later in the quarter, Gamaun “G” Boykin added a three-pointer to his stats for Great Falls’ largest lead of the contest (47-36) with 8:31 remaining. Josh Sanchez cut into the Sun Devils deficit (52-46) midway through the quarter with his field goal. The Electric’s offense put up 64 points after two quarters of play for the eight-point advantage at the half. The Electric’s game day staff celebrated Easter a day early as they had a few Easter-related games for the kids in attendance during the timeouts. At the half, they had an Easter egg hunt on the court at St. Patrick’s Academy with Electric mascot, Bolt helping.
The third stanza began with Ayoni Benavidez connecting on a jumper for the Sun Devils for the first two points of the second half. The Electric’s offense, with the home crowd’s help and approval, went on to score ten straight points, including Manny Izunabor’s four points during that stretch. The Montana TBL
team built a 15-point lead (75-60) early in the third frame. Despite Tri-Cities outscoring them, 31-21, in the final nine minutes, the Electric still held a five-point advantage after three quarters, 96-91.
Deon Lyle started the final quarter with a jumper from the corner, and Manny Izunabor scored on one of his two free throws before Tri-Cities standout Josh Sanchez answered from down town (99-94). Great Falls stretched the lead to 106-94 with field goals by Deon Lyle, Manny Izunabor, and Bilal Richardson.
Turnovers started to plague the Sun Devils as Great Falls capitalized on their mistakes. The Electric went on to a 128-111 victory, ending with a dunk by Izunabor with 40 seconds remaining in regulation.
Deon Lyle led the winning team with 39 points, 8 rebounds, and nine assists, while teammate Manny Izunabor went 12-for-14 from the field for 30 points, 11 boards, and swatted away three shots. Cooper Dewitt contributed four blocks for Great Falls.
Ayoni Benavidez erupted for 40 points, 10 rebounds, and blocked three shots for the Sun Devils. Donovan Sanor also had a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
By Kevin Scott: April 4, 2026 – Great Falls, Mt
