BUTTE -- Despite double-figure scoring from three players, including a double-double by Hayden Diekhans, the No. 4-ranked Montana Tech men's basketball team dropped an 82-80 overtime decision to Montana Western Friday evening in Valley Bank Arena. 

Diekhans scored a team-best 22 points to go with 10 rebounds and three steals to lead the way for the Orediggers (8-1, 2-1 Frontier Conference). Karson Peffer scored 19 points for Montana Tech, and Brayden Koch chipped in 12. Peffer also had eight rebounds. 

Montana Tech found itself down early. The Bulldogs (8-1, 3-0) opened the game on a 14-7 run before the Orediggers got their feet under them. 

Tech quickly closed the gap, though, with a 9-2 run of its own, tying the game at 16 on a three-point play by Diekhans. The teams were back and forth for the rest of the half as Western took a 36-34 lead into the locker room. 

In the second half, UMW again built a double-digit lead before Montana Tech came back. Trailing 47-37 with 15:20 remaining, Tech battled back to tie the game at 55 with a Peffer layup and then assumed the lead with 8:59 to go on a pair of Camdyn LaRance free throws. 

UMW grabbed the lead back and held a five-point advantage with 2:05 on the clock before Peffer converted a layup to make it a one-possession game with 1:41 to play. After a stop on the defensive end, Peffer kicked the ball out to an open Ethan Venema, who nailed the game-tying 3-pointer with 1:05 on the clock. Venema finished with nine points, four rebounds, and four blocks off the bench. 

Neither defense blinked again, however, and the game went to overtime knotted at 69. 

In the extra period, Tech held a 77-75 lead with 1:49 left on the clock after Diekhans converted a couple of free throws, but UMW scored seven of the final 10 points in the game to seal the win. 

Emanuel Steward led the Bulldogs with 22 points. 

Montana Tech will continue Frontier Conference play at home next Friday at 7 p.m. against Rocky Mountain.