BUTTE, Mont. – Jalen Coates and John Chapman combined for 54 points Thursday night propelling the Orediggers past Rocky Mountain College, 87-77.

Sophomore point guard Jalen Coates scored a career-high 30 points on 12-of-20 shooting leading the Orediggers offensively. Coates added 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists in the victory.

Montana Tech trailed the Battlin' Bears 44-33 at the half after committing eight turnovers in the first frame.

The Orediggers used a 27-to-7 run in the middle of the second half to take the lead, 64-57, with 7:46 left to play.

Chapman scored 14 of his career-high 24 points in the second half. The Frenchtown native was an efficient 8-of-13 from the floor and 4-for-7 from three point land.

Montana Tech shot 53 percent from the floor and 45 percent from three in the final 20 minutes. The Orediggers held Rocky to 30 percent shooting from the floor and
15 percent from three point land in the second half.

Lukas Vining scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds before fouling out in the final minutes.

Montana Tech hosts their final home game of the season Saturday when Montana Western travels to Butte.