BUTTE, Mont. – No. 23 Montana Tech men's basketball opened the 2022-23 season with a runaway win over Portland Bible College 109-24.

The Orediggers shook the offseason rust off scoring the first 39 points before the Wildcats put the basketball through the hoop.

Tech shot 54.8% from the field in the game and scored 76 points in the paint.

The Orediggers outrebounded the Wildcats 46-18.

Caleb Bellach and Michael Ure led the Orediggers with 16 points each. They both grabbed 3 rebounds each as well playing just 20 minutes.

Bellach went 5 for 9 and knocked 3 of 4 down from beyond the arc.

Ure went 7 for 12 from the field.

Freshman Hayden Diekhans had 10 points going 4 for 5 from the field and 2 of 3 from three-point range.

Junior transfer Asa Williams finished with 8 points and 4 rebounds.

Junior transfer Chrishon Dixon had 6 points and a game-high 9 rebounds.

Keeley Bake and Sam Grey chipped in 8 points apiece.

The Orediggers are back in action on Kelvin Sampson Court for the Montana Tech Tip Off Tournament. Tech opens up against Bacone College (Okla.) Friday at 4 p.m. and plays Warner Pacific (Ore.) Saturday at 7 p.m.