HOBBS, New Mexico – The No. 13 Montana Tech Orediggers finished their road non-conference season schedule by upending the University of the Southwest Mustangs 85-82, capping off a New Mexico trip where the Orediggers finished 2-0.

The win was the tenth consecutive victory for Montana Tech (11-2, 1-1) against a non-conference opponents and improved their overall record against non-Frontier schools to 10-1.

The teams traded early leads before a Cam LaRance three pointer gave Montana Tech a ten-point cushion with 14 minutes remaining in the first half. The Orediggers led by as much as 11 in the half but the Mustangs (8-4, 4-2) battled back to take a 34-32 lead on back-to-back three-point jumpers by Tre Thomas with six minutes left to play in the half. A pair of Caleb Bellach free throws would knot the score at 34, with each team continuing to trade leads until the first half ended with the Orediggers holding a 45-44 lead.

The Orediggers held the lead the majority of the second half, leading by as much as seven points before a late Mustang run that tied the game at 76 with a pair of free throws by Thomas with 3:45 remaining.

The teams would once again trade leads with the Mustangs holding an 82-79 advantage with just 1:08 remaining in the game. With under a minute to play, Asa Williams hit a three-point basket while getting fouled and after completing the four-point play gave Montana Tech the lead for good. Keeley Bake iced the game with a pair of free throws to give the Orediggers the tough road win.

Bellach led the Orediggers in scoring with 21, while Williams finished with 16 going 4 for 8 from the three-point line. Hayden Diekhans finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds and Michael Ure finished in double figures in scoring with 12.

Southwest New Mexico was led by Malik Malone with 17 points, seven rebounds, and three steals.

Montana Tech returns home to finish their non-conference action schedule with games against a pair of Canadian schools. The Orediggers play St. Mary's College on December 29^th and Keyano College on December 30^th.