BUTTE, Mont. – The Montana Tech men's basketball team opened up the 2015-16 season with a 93-70 victory over Concordia University of Edmonton Friday night at the HPER Complex.

As a team the Orediggers (1-0) shot .468 from the field and outrebounded the Thunder 51-37. Tech dominated the paint scoring 51 of its 93 in the paint. The Orediggers got a support from their bench as they outscored Concordia 28-5.

The Digger defense was in full force causing 17 Thunder turnovers resulting in 20 Oredigger points.

Senior Paul Engstrom notched his fourth-career double-double with a career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes of action. Engstrom went 10-of-14 from the field and 5-of-8 from the charity stripe.

Newcomers Jalen Coates and Cruz Ginns Jr. each scored in double figure in their Digger debuts scoring 16 and 13 points respectively. Sophomore Flemming Okeke had a solid performance off the bench with 12 points, seven boards and two steals in 16 minutes.

Tech got off to a slow start to open up the first half before a Kale Guldseth three pointer tied up the contest at 24 all. The Orediggers regrouped late in the stanza via back-to-back buckets by Akeem Williams to take the 51-39 halftime lead.

In the second half it was all Montana Tech. The Diggers saw their lead bloom to 22 at 71-49. Tech continued to stay hot throughout the half to hold on the 93-70 victory.

Both teams will square off again on Saturday at the HPER Complex with tipoff slated for 4:30 p.m.