BUTTE -- Asher Williams scored 22 points, Brayden Koch added 10 more, and the Montana Tech men's basketball team won its home-opener Friday night, 77-53, over Westcliff inside Valley Bank Arena.
The Orediggers (3-0) had to overcome a slow start in their opening game of the Best Western Tip Off Classic. Tech found itself trailing 11-10 midway through the first half. But an Elijah Groves 3-pointer at the 5:16 mark put the Orediggers ahead for good, and Tech carried a 28-21 lead into halftime.
In the second, Williams drained a 3-pointer on Montana Tech's second possession to give the home team its first double-digit lead. Tech made it a 7-0 run to start the half, but Westcliff (0-2) hung around.
The Warriors' DJ Henry made a free throw with 10:23 remaining that cut the lead to 10. Not long after, Williams drilled another 3 to kick off another 7-0 Montana Tech run, and the Orediggers cruised to the win.
Williams had 18 of his 22 points after halftime, shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from long range in the second half. Koch scored eight of his 10 in the closing period as well.
Groves and Justin Asi each scored nine points off the bench to help the Orediggers' cause.
Aaron Gillyard led Westcliff with 15 points.
In the opening game of the Best Western Tip Off Classic, Montana Western topped Lewis-Clark State, 69-60. The two Frontier Conference teams swap opponents Saturday. Montana Western takes on Westcliff at 5 p.m. inside Valley Bank Arena before the Orediggers play LC State at 7.
Visit Montana Tech athletics' home online, GoDiggers.com, anytime for up-to-the-minute news and coverage of the Orediggers. Give Montana Tech athletics a like on Facebook, and follow the Orediggers on X and Instagram at @DiggerAthletics.
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