Frontier Conference Game #1
Montana Tech (7-3) vs. Montana Western (9-3)
Dec. 2, 2021, 7:30 P.M. MST
Kelvin Sampson Court, Butte, Mont.

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Frontier Conference Game #2
Montana Tech (7-3) vs. Rocky Mountain College (4-3)
Dec. 4, 2021, 4:00 P.M. MST
Fortin Center, Billings, Mont.

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FULL GAME NOTES

Game Coverage
Live stats, audio and video on www.godiggers.com. Live audio can also be found on http://kbow550.net/
 
Scouting the Bulldogs
The Bulldogs of Montana Western are off to an impressive 7-3 start under fourth year head coach Mike Larsen. Western  is led in scoring by Max Clark who averages 17.2 PPG and Jalen Hodges who averages 13.6 PPG. The Bulldogs are scoring 75.4 points per game and limiting opponents to just  56.2 points per game. Western is one of the best three point shooting teams in the NAIA (39.6%). Montana Tech is riding a seven game winning streak against the Bulldogs that dates back to the beginning of the 2020 conference season. The Diggers are 9-1 over the last 10 games against Western.
 
Scouting the Battlin' Bears
The  Battlin' Bears of Rocky Mountain College are just 4-3 on the young season under the direction of Bill Dreikosen who is in his 21st season at the helm of his Alma Mater.  The Battlin' Bears are coming off back-to-back wins in Dickinson, ND against Dakota Weseleyan and Dickinson State in the Sam Milanovich Classic. Rocky is led in scoring by Tayshawun Bradford (13.1 PPG), Maxim Stephens (13.0 PPG), and Jesse Owens (12.7 PPG). The Battlin' Bears are averaging 77.6 PPG on offense. Rocky has lost their last nine matchups with Montana Tech.
 
Strong Addition
Montana Tech's best addition this offseason, Caleb Bellach, has made an immediate impact on the Orediggers. Bellach, a standout for Manhattan Christian in high school and former Montana State Bobcat, is averaging 13.9 PPG and shooting 48.7% from the floor. The sophomore is also one of the team's leading outside threats shooting 41.2% from three.
 
Recent Success
Montana Tech is a 18-2 over the last combined 20 games against Montana Western and Rocky Mountain College. The Diggers bring with them a seven and a nine game winning streak against the Bulldogs and Battlin' Bears respectively. The Diggers have won the last five home games against Western and the last four home games against Rocky.
 
Receiving Votes
Montana Tech is receiving votes in the NAIA Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll released on Wednesday. Carroll College is the only other Frontier Conference team in the poll at No. 4.
 
England POTW
Oredigger big man Taylor England was named Frontier Conference Player of the Week after averaging 22 PPG and 8 RPG last week. England leads the Frontier Conference shooting 66.2% from the field.