BUTTE- The Montana Tech Orediggers earned their biggest win of the season at just the right time defeating No.7 Carroll College 69-66 on Thursday night at Kelvin Sampson Court.
Montana Tech (6-11 Conf., 16-13) controlled the pace of the game throughout the contest leading by as many as six in the first half. The Diggers went into the locker room with a 29-27 advantage at halftime.
After the half, Montana Tech went on a 9-to-2 run to push their lead to as large as 40-29 with 11:47 remaining in the contest. Montana Tech led by as many as eight points with 2:35 to play before the Saints went on a run of their own to cut the Digger lead to one point, 67-66, with under ten seconds to play. Montana Tech was able to ice the contest with a pair of
Nate Ward free throws in the closing moments that forced a Saints three point attempt to fall off the mark as the horn sounded.
The Diggers shot 45.3 percent from the floor and held Carroll College to 38 percent shooting in the victory. Dylan Pannabacker led the way with 13 points before fouling out in the second half.
Taylor England registered a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds while
Derrius Collins added 10.
Nate Ward scored nine,
Blake Dittman and
Troy Owens Jr. scored seven, and
Nick Fitts and
Drew Huse chipped in six.Â
Carroll College was led in scoring by Match Burnham who had 22 points on 6-of-16 shooting.
The Diggers improve to 6-11 in the Frontier and Carroll College falls to 12-5.
Montana Tech plays Rocky Mountain College on Friday night at 7:30 P.M.
