Frontier Conference Game #7
#3 Carroll College (13-4, 5-1)
Tuesday, January 15, 2019 5:30 p.m. MST
Carroll PE Center, Helena, Mont.
 
Frontier Conference Game #8
RV Rocky Mountain College (12-4, 1-3)
Saturday, January 19, 2019 5:30 p.m. MST
Fortin Center, Billings, Mont.
 
LIVE AUDIO | LIVE VIDEO

FULL GAME NOTES

Scouting the Saints
First year head coach Kurt Paulson's Fighting Saints are atop the Frontier Conference standings after a 5-1 start to league play with their lone loss coming on the road against Rocky Mountain College. Led by an experienced front line, the Saints have four double-digit scorers in Match Burnham (21.1 PPG), Matt Wyman (18.7 PPG), Dane Warp (18.1 PPG), and Ife Kalejaiye (11.3 PPG). 
 
Last Time
Montana Tech lost a hard fought battle against the Saints in Helena in late December, 76-68 . The Diggers forced the Saints into 26 turnovers and were led in scoring by sophomore big man Taylor England who tallied 16 points.
 
Scouting the Battlin' Bears
Rocky Mountain College sits in the middle of the pack in the Frontier with a 3-3 conference record after being voted by favorite to win the league in the preseason coaches' poll. Rocky is led in scoring and rebounding by preseason Player of the Year Jared Samuelson (21.1 PPG, 7.6 RPG).
 
Last Time
The Orediggers notched their second Frontier Conference victory of the young season when they defeated the Battlin' Bears 75-67 in Butte on January 5. Tied at 30-30 at the half, Montana Tech found an offensive rhythm shooting 54 percent in the second frame. Troy Owens Jr. and Nate Ward led the Diggers on the offensive end scoring 28 and 20 points.
 
Forcing Turnovers
Montana Tech leads the NAIA in turnover margin (+7.2) and total steals (197). The Digger pressure has Montana Tech also ranked fifth in the NAIA in scoring defense holding opponents to just 64.1 points per game.
 
Tough on Defense
The Orediggers lead the Frontier Conference in defensive field goal percentage allowing opponents to shoot just 42.9 percent against them in league play. Additionally, the Diggers are defending the three point line better than anyone in the league, holding opponents to a league-low 34 made three pointers on 96 attempts.
 
England Erases
Montana Tech forward Taylor England leads the Frontier Conference with 24 blocks. England recorded three swats in the Diggers' victory over Providence.