BUTTE - Tyce Dahlberg scored 13 points and pulled in five rebounds to lead Dickinson State (1-7), but #18 Montana Tech (6-0) beat the Blue Hawks for the second time in as many weeks, 82-71 to cap off the Montana Tech Fall Classic in Butte on Saturday.

Dickinson State took an early 8-6 lead on a layup by Trey Hladky, and led again 16-14 on a three from Riley Spoohunter, but neither team was able to get any separation in a back-and-forth opening 20 minutes. Back-to-back triples from Gus Wright and John Evans put DSU ahead, 29-25, with 4:37 left in the half, but a 7-1 Montana Tech run to close the half put the Orediggers up 34-30 headed to the break.

After shooting 50 percent from deep (6-12) in the first half, the Blue Hawk shooters went cold going just 2-10 in the second half. The cold spell allowed MTU to stretch their lead to 76-54 with 7:56 left in the game. Dickinson State went on a 17-6 run to end the game, but for the second night in a row it was too-little too-late.

Gus Wright had 10 points to join Dahlberg in double digits and added four rebounds and two blocks. Kose Egbule pulled in a team-high six rebounds to go with nine points, while Hladky and Evans chipped in seven points each. As a team, the Blue Hawks turned the ball over only 11 times, but only forced five Montana Tech turnovers on the other end. The Orediggers won the rebounding battle 36-32 and outshot the Blue Hawks 46 percent to 43 percent. 

WHATS NEXT

The Blue Hawks will return home for the Sam Milanovich Classic next Friday and Saturday, November 25-26. DSU will take on Montana Western and Rocky Mountain College, while Dakota State will play each team as well.