BUTTE -- Montana Tech's men's basketball team suffered a setback Friday night at home, dropping a 49-38 Frontier Conference contest to Bellevue.
Ethan Venema led the Orediggers (18-7, 12-7 Frontier) with nine points and four rebounds.
Josh Coulanges and
Hayden Diekhans each scored six.
Montana Tech was plagued by cold shooting the whole game. The Orediggers were just 12-for-51 (23.5 percent) from the field, but defense kept them in the game. Bellevue shot just 32.8 percent (21-for-64) but used 21 offensive rebounds for 16 second-chance points.
The Orediggers led 9-4 midway through the first half, but the Bruins (20-5, 15-4) responded with a 7-0 run late in the first to take the lead. Tech battled to lead 24-23 at halftime.
Bellevue took the lead on an Ahmad Bynum jumper to open the second half and never trailed again. A 10-0 Bruins run midway through the half added separation, and the visitors rode that to victory.
RJ Smith led Bellevue with 14 points and 14 rebounds.
Montana Tech will look to regain its winning form with its 2025-26 home finale Saturday at 7 p.m. against Dakota State.
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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