BUTTE, Mont. -- The ninth-ranked Montana Tech men's basketball team stayed perfect on the young season, cruising to a 78-57 victory over Northwest Friday evening in the Best Western Tip Off Classic.

The Orediggers (3-0) got a game-high 18 points out of Camdyn LaRance and 16 points and three assists from Ifeanyi Okeke. Michael Ure continued his hot start to the year with 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Northwest was hot early on Kelvin Sampson Court, jumping out to a 9-8 lead, before the Orediggers took over. Okeke kicked off a 12-2 Montana Tech run with a transition layup, and Keeley Bake's 3-pointer with 7:29 until halftime gave the Diggers their first double-digit lead of the evening. The lead never again got below 10 points.

Montana Tech extended the advantage to as many as 23 in the first half and took a 41-22 lead into halftime. Okeke was a perfect 4-for-4 from the field in the first half to enter the break with 10 points.

The Diggers continued to flex their muscle in the second. Tech stretched the lead to as many as 32 in the second half before Northwest reeled the score back in late. LaRance tallied 11 of his 18 after halftime.

Bake finished with nine points and four assists as he managed the Digger offense. Rhett Reynolds had three steals and two blocks off the bench to anchor the defensive effort.

Jamestown bested Montana Western, 76-57, in the tournament's opening game.

The Best Western Tip Off Classic will continue Saturday as Montana Western takes on Northwest in the 5 p.m. game before the Orediggers play host to Jamestown at 7.

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