By MT Tech Sports Information

BUTTE, Mont. – The No. 4 Montana Tech Orediggers started the national post season with an 83-69 victory over No. 13 Westmont College to start the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Championship presented by Ballogy.

The Orediggers (27-4) played the solid style of basketball they have showed all season. Tech had only three turnovers in the first half and finished with 10 total while dishing 17 assists and shooting nearly 50% from the field in the game.

After the opening five minutes that saw five lead changes and the Warriors going up 11-5 early, the Orediggers seized control and didn’t look back. Tech outscored Westmont 33-15 in the final 11 minutes of the first half taking a 44-29 lead into the locker room at the break.

Tech shot 17 of 35 from the field in the first half had had a 19-12 advantage over Westmont on the boards. Michael Ure led the Orediggers with 10 points in the first half.

Westmont shot 48% from the field in the first half but turned the ball over 10 times.

Drew Ramirez got the Warriors going after half time leading the team on a 13-5 run closing the gap to 49-42 in the first five minutes. Ramirez hit a pair of three-pointers and had 10 points starting a rally. Ramirez had 15 of his 18 points in the second half leading the Warriors in scoring.

Asa Williams hit a three-pointer with 14:35 to go igniting a 16-7 run. Williams had 11 points in just under seven minutes putting Tech up 65-49. Williams had 13 points in the second half with 15 points on the night. Williams shot 3 for 6 from beyond the arc in the second half and finished the game with five rebounds and five assists.

Tech would lead by as many as 17 in the final ten minutes with Westmont only coming within nine points before time expired.

Camdyn LaRance also had 15 points hitting 2 of 3 from long and going 5 for 9 from the field. LaRance shot 3 for 4 from the free throw line finishing with five rebounds and three assists.

Hayden Diekhans led the Orediggers with nine rebounds and went f6 for 11 from the field with 13 points.

Ure had 13 points and four rebounds. Chrishon Dixon went 8 for 8 from the free throw line finishing with 10 points.

Bridger Larson had nine points, five rebounds, and three assists.

The Warriors went 8 for 26 from three-point range in the game and shot 46.6% from the field. Westmont had nine assists and 16 turnovers.

Tone Patton had 14 points and three rebounds.

Cade Roth led the Warriors with eight rebounds. Anthony McIntyre and Amir Davis had 11 points and seven rebounds each.

Tonight, was the last game for the Warriors (17-12) in the NAIA as they make the move to NCAA Division II next season.

The Orediggers move on to the second-round tomorrow night against No. 5 Thomas More (23-8). The Saints defeated No. 12 Eastern Oregon 66-44 in the opening game of the night. Tech meets Thomas More on Kelvin Sampson Court tomorrow at 7 p.m. in the HPER Complex.