GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The University of Providence scored first and put the Montana Tech men's basketball team on their heels for the rest of the game. The Argos earned the upset over the No. 8 Orediggers 70-59.

The meeting was the first between the two teams since last year's Frontier Conference Tournament Championship game. 

The Argos (10-8, 3-2) hand the Orediggers (14-4, 4-1) their first conference loss of the season. The conference victory is their third straight after dropping their first two. 

The Oredigger offense struggled in the first half and didn't improve after the break. The team shot 39.3% in the first half and 25.8% from the field after halftime finishing with a 32.2 field goal percentage. The three-pointers were not dropping with only 1 of 11 attempts in the first half. The Orediggers finished making just 4 of 26 three point attempts. 

Keeley Bake was the only Oredigger to make more than one three going 2 for 5 from beyond the arc. Bake made all five of his free throw attempts finishing with 11 points and 3 rebounds.

The Orediggers had a season high 16 turnovers and their 8 assists tied their season low.

Caleb Bellach led the team with 13 points and 3 rebounds.

Ifeanyi Okeke led the team on the boards grabbing 9 rebounds and finished with 7 points. 

The Argos started slow but their offense picked up the pace after halftime shooting 54.2% from the field. They finished shooting 42.6%. 

After making just one three pointer in the first half, the Argos hit nine after the break making 8 of 20 in the game. 

Davien Harris-Williams made the Argos lone three in the first half and finished hitting 3 of 5 attempts. Harris-Williams led the Argos with 17 points to go with 6 rebounds and 4 assists. 

Kenny Curtis went 3 for 6 from long and finished with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals.

Jake Olsen had 11 points and 8 rebounds. 

Montana Tech returns home this Thursday. The Orediggers host Montana State Northern at 7 p.m. on Kelvin Sampson Court.