GREAT FALLS, Mont.— Montana Tech dropped a back-and-forth contest to No. 25 University of Providence Saturday night in the McLaughlin Center.

The Orediggers found a strong rhythm against the Argonaut 2-3 zone and shot 50 percent in the first half. The Diggers and Argos went into the halftime break tied up at 39-39. 

Montana Tech finished the contest shooting 52 percent from the floor and hit a conference season-high 14 three pointers. 

Troy Owens Jr. led the Diggers on offense scoring 21 points. Taylor England notched 11 points while Dylan Pannabecker scored 10. 

Providence shot 54 percent from the floor and was led in scoring by Austin Starr who had a game-high 27.

The Diggers fall to 15-11 overall and 5-9 in conference play. Montana Tech returns to action on Thursday night when they travel to Dillon to take on Montana Western at 7:30 P.M. at Straugh Gymnasium.