Montana Tech Athletics

Led by Head Coach Rick Dessing
The team finished the season with a 22-11 overall record winning 15 of their last 17 games in 1997-98
Won the Frontier Conference Tournament
First Men’s Basketball team to reach the NAIA National Tournament
Brian Watson was Named Frontier Conference Player of the Year and Third Team All-American
Ron Hurd, Brodie Kelly and Jeff Bellach were named all-conference
The 1998-99 team repeated as Frontier Conference Tournament Champions finishing with an 18-15 overall record
Scott Finley hit a 23-foot buzzer beater on the road against Western Montana College to win the tournament 59-58
The Orediggers defeated Lewis-Clark State at the NAIA Regional Playoff Game to reach the NAIA National Tournament for the second straight year
Brian Watson was named the Frontier Conference Player of the Year and was a First Team All-American
Jeff Bellach and Cassio Mafia were named all-conference and Bellach was an Honorable Mention All-American