NAIA Opening Round
No. 3 Montana Tech vs. No. 14 Mid-American Christian
March 11, 2022, 4:30 p.m.
Sheaffer Center, Waxahachie, Tex.
 
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS

FULL GAME NOTES

Coming Up
Montana Tech travels to Waxahachie, Texas for the  2022 NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship Opening Round, presented by Ballogy. The Orediggers are the No. 3 seed in the Liston bracket. No. 14 Mid-American Christian is Tech's first opponent in the tournament. The winner of the game will face the winner of No. 6 Southwestern Assemblies of God University and No. 11 Central Methodist (Mo.) Saturday at 4:30 p.m. The winner of the Opening Round travels to the final 16 site in Kansas City, Mo.

It's Been a While
The Orediggers earned their first share of the Frontier Conference Regular Season Title since 1993 this year going 13-2 in league play. Tech and Carroll College are Co-Champions after the Saints also finished with a 13-2 league record. The Orediggers defeated the Saints 62-61 on a last second three-pointer from senior Drew Huse to receive the conference's automatic bid into the NAIA tournament. The Frontier Conference Tournament Championship is the first for the Orediggers since 1999 and their first national postseason birth since 1999.

Senior Leaders
Three-time first team all-conference guard Sindou Diallo and four-time all-conference selection Taylor England lead the Orediggers into the post season. Diallo leads the Orediggers in scoring this season averaging 16.1 points a game and England led the team in rebounding grabbing 7.1 boards a contest. Diallo was selected first team all-conference and England was a second team selection.

Defensive Player of the Year
All of the hard work paid off for senior Derrius Collins this year earning Frontier Defensive Player of the Year. Collins draws the tough matchups holding his opponent in check. The Missoula native averaged 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals this season. Collins also has the clutch deep shot averaging 6.8 points and a 41.5% clip from three.

Newcomer of the Year
Sophomore Caleb Bellach transferred from Montana State in the offseason and made an immediate impact. Bellach was named the Frontier Newcomer of the Year this season averaging 15 points a game while shooting 44.2% from the field and 39.1% from three. Bellach was also selected first team all-conference this season.

Hiatt Returns to NAIA National Championship
Sixth-year head coach Adam Hiatt is leading the Orediggers to their first trip to the NAIA Men's Basketball National Championship since 1999. Coach Hiatt is familiar with the post season from his last head job at Westminster College. Hiatt led Westminster to the tournament in 2013-14 when the Griffins lost to Benedictine (Kan.) 70-65 in the first round.

Sixth Man of the Year
Freshman guard Keeley Bake was named the Sixth Man of the Year by the Frontier Conference. Bake was the spark off the bench this season averaging 6.7 points a game while shooting 44.1% from the field and 38.6% from long. Bake was a critical presence in the second half for the Orediggers this season.