BUTTE, Mont. -- For the first time in documented program history, the Montana Tech men's basketball team started the season 10-0.

The No. 5-ranked Orediggers beat St. Mary's (Alberta), the eighth-ranked team in the Canada Collegiate Athletic Association, 79-62, to run their season-opening win streak to 10 games. 

Brayden Koch led Montana Tech with a game-best 24 points. The Helena native was 10-for-14 from the field in the win, including a 4-for-7 effort from beyond the 3-point arc.

Michael Ure contributed a double-double, scoring 15 points to go with 11 rebounds for Tech. The Orediggers also got double-figure scoring efforts out of Ifeanyi Okeke and Keeley Bake, who scored 10 points each.

Okeke added eight rebounds and four assists to his line, while Hayden Diekhans had six points and 10 rebounds for the Diggers.

Montana Tech began the game with a 16-5 run, but the Lightning were not to be deterred. St. Mary's rushed back to cut the deficit to 20-18, but the visitors were never able to tie the game. Tech took a 36-32 lead into halftime, powered by 10 first-half points from Koch.

StMU cut the lead back to a basket with the first points of the second half, but Tech again had the answer. The Orediggers used an 8-0 run to gain back some breathing room and maintained the double-digit lead for the rest of the game.

Koch and Ure combined for 27 points after intermission to help seal the win.

Montana Tech will take a break from regular-season play Tuesday with a 7 p.m. tipoff at NCAA Division I member University of Montana before returning to NAIA competition in Arizona. The Orediggers will take on No. 1-ranked Arizona Christian and No. 7-ranked The Master's December 16 and 17, respectively, at the Cactus Classic in Chandler, Ariz.

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