Box Score SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—The Orediggers (5-3) lost a tight contest with Texas Wesleyan 78-69 in the first game of the Westminster Thanksgiving Classic on Friday.

The Diggers were neck and neck with the Rams 38-38 at half.

Montana Tech faltered in the first five minutes of the second half letting the Rams begin the stanza on a 9-0 run. The Montana Tech deficit reached as high as 17 points 68-51 before the Diggers started their comeback attempt.

With around five minutes left in the game, the Orediggers woke up, starting their comeback. Montana Tech cashed in on threes by Jalen Coates and Cruz Ginns Jr. The Diggers also got key baskets down the stretch from Sadiq Inuwa and Flemming Okeke.

Montana Tech got the deficit down to 74-67 with a minute left on a pair of Inuwa free throws and moments later the Diggers would cut the lead to six points 75-69 with 45 seconds left on the clock as Ginns Jr. hit a tough jumper.

The Rams iced the game at the free throw line winning the contest 78-69.

Ginns Jr. and Coates led the Diggers with 18 points apiece while Sadiq Inuwa scored 10 points and grabbed seven boards in his Oredigger debut.

The Diggers will play in the 3^rd place game tomorrow afternoon.