Montana Tech men “embrace the moment” in OT win over top-seeded William Penn, advance to quarterfinals

KANSAS CITY — For the primary half of Montana Tech’s Spherical of 16 nationwide match recreation towards top-seeded William Penn College, head coach Adam Hiatt felt his squad was “taking part in like a staff that had by no means been to Kansas Metropolis” which, to be truthful, it was.

“The lights had been slightly brilliant,” Hiatt mentioned. “We had been taking part in like we did not wish to lose this recreation. We needed to have extra aggressiveness and confidence.”

Popping out of the break, the Orediggers discovered loads of each.

4 Tech gamers scored in double digits — together with a team-high 19 factors from Michael Ure, who went on a important scoring run within the second half — because the Orediggers mounted a number of double-digit comebacks towards the Statesmen and ultimately headed to an extra time interval the place Tech escaped with a 79-78 win to lock up a berth within the quarterfinals.

A 12 months after successful their first-ever nationwide match recreation and falling within the second spherical, Tech made historical past this season by advancing to the ultimate web site in Kansas Metropolis. With one other gutsy extra time win — this one coming per week after Tech pulled out an OT victory at dwelling over Thomas Moore College to punch a ticket to Kansas Metropolis — the Orediggers continued their unprecedented run.

“Adversity creates alternative,” mentioned Hiatt of his staff which trailed William Penn by 13 factors slightly underneath halfway by the second half. “However we embraced the second and stayed within the current.”

The Orediggers and Statesmen exchanged 11 lead adjustments within the first half, with William Penn managing to construct a 33-24 benefit on the break.

That lead swelled to 13 off a layup from Jayvin Brown to place the Statesmen up 54-41 with 13:23 remaining within the second half. Tech’s Camdyn LaRance then hit a layup to make it an 11-point recreation.

That is when Ure took over, scoring 12 factors over the subsequent three minutes to tie the sport at 55 and switch the tables on a Statesmen staff that at one level seemed prefer it may runaway with the win.

“Simply keep aggressive,” Ure mentioned of his mindset throughout his scoring run. “if the pictures got here I needed to take them. I needed to do my greatest to contribute the place I can.”

Ure then hit a go-ahead 3-pointer to place Tech forward 71-68 with simply over a minute remaining earlier than William Penn managed to tie the sport on a soar shot from Chanze Cruesoe and a free throw from Eddie Dale and drive the additional interval.

Additional time noticed the Statesmen seize a 73-71 lead off a dunk from Daley earlier than Tech’s Asa Wiliams hit a 3-pointer to place Tech up 74-73. Neither staff would lead by greater than a single level for the rest of the interval and the Orediggers’ remaining bucket — a free throw from LaRance with 24 seconds left — was the deciding rating as Cruesoe’s last-gasp 3-point try was off track.

Ure wasn’t the one participant to step up for a staff that is spent almost everything of this match run with Frontier Convention Participant of the Yr Caleb Bellach. Williams added 17 factors and seven rebounds, Hayden Diekhans almost had a double-double with 16 factors and 9 boards and LaRance completed with 14 factors.

“We use the entire staff, we work actually laborious from begin to end,” mentioned Ure. “We simply persevere collectively. We have now plenty of guys that may actually buckle down and grit their enamel and get the job executed.”

Daley paced the Statesmen with a double-double (21 factors and 12 rebounds), C.J. Washington added 11 factors and Muneer Newton additionally had a double-double efficiency with 10 factors and 12 boards.

Tech now will get a day to catch its breath earlier than taking over OUAZ (Ottawa College of Arizona) on Wednesday at 2 p.m.

These Orediggers proceed to move deeper into uncharted territory and, at this level, they’re simply soaking in what has been nothing in need of a magical experience.

“We’re gonna get pleasure from this win to the fullest,” Hiatt mentioned. “At this level of the season it is a one-game match each single day. It is survive and advance. I am completely happy for these guys, they perceive perseverance.”