Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) slam dunks trailed by Wayland Baptist’s Tahjae Hill (0) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
BUTTEÂ â For the third year in a row, Montana Tech has won an NAIA national tournament game.
The third-seeded Orediggers took care of business against 14-seed Wayland Baptist, 75-67, in front of a packed crowd at the HPER Complex.
It was a tightly-contested matchup, but Tech found a way to survive and advance, and now is one of 32 teams left standing in the NAIA men’s basketball tournament.
The Diggers leaned on their past postseason experiences to overcome the Pioneersâ runs.
âThatâs the one thing thatâs a strength of ours, as Iâve mentioned before, the experience of our team. Weâve been in these moments before,â Tech head coach Adam Hiatt said.
Just over one year since tearing his ACL in the first minute of Techâs opening-round tournament game, Caleb Bellach scored 14 points.
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The emotions were much different this time around as Bellach got to experience playing a full national tournament game in Butte for the first time.
âIâve been thinking about it for the past year,â Bellach said. âI was asking God why, well this is why. For nights like this.â
Montana Tech’s Caleb Bellach (10) drives past Wayland Baptist’s Jaxon Recer (23) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Asa Williams led Tech offensively with 18 points and Keeley Bake added nine points.
Wayland Baptist was hungry to pull off the upset, and nearly did enough to do so. It trailed by three points at halftime.
It was an off shooting night for the Diggers â making four of 21 attempts from beyond the arc â but they were able to overcome those woes.
âThe way you lose in the tournament, is you have one cold night, and we did,â Hiatt said. âWe did a lot of things to enable a team to be able to step up and beat us.â
âHowever, we learned a lot this year and this team has grown a lot. Our grit and our toughness really propelled us in that second half. We bent a little bit, but we didnât break.â
Helping the Diggers hold off the Pioneers was a loud and proud crowd. The HPER was nearly at capacity and gave Tech a boost as the program improved its home record to 47-2 over the last three seasons.
Young fans cheer as the Orediggers starting lineup is announced during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
âEverywhere you look, thereâs not an open seat in the place. Everyoneâs standing up, getting loud for you. Who wouldnât want to play in a gym like that?â Bellach said.
âI feel like we have the best home court advantage in the nation.â
The turnaround is quick as Tech will host Lewis-Clark State on Saturday at 6 p.m.
A lot has changed for the Warriors since they took a 79-55 loss to the Diggers in Butte on Nov. 17. An 11-seed, L-C State defeated six-seed Hope International, 93-77, on Friday.
The Warriors have won seven of their last eight games.
âTheyâre a completely different team,â Hiatt said. âTheyâve figured out their rotation. They have size in the middle, just like tonight, that can cause us some problems. Theyâre gritty defensively.â
The winner of Saturdayâs matchup will advance to the NAIA National Championship Final Site in Kansas City, Missouri.
Tech reached the final site last season in the program’s deepest tournament run ever, and has been thinking about making it back ever since.
âWe got one win to get back to Kansas City, and thatâs what weâve been working for all year,â Bellach said.
âWe celebrate this one tonight a little bit, but weâre not finished yet.â
Photos: Montana Tech vs. Wayland Baptist NAIA Championship
Montana Tech head coach Adam Hiatt huddles with the Orediggers during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Young fans cheer as the Orediggers starting lineup is announced during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Ifeanyi Okeke (5) contests the ball with Wayland Baptist’s Bol Tong (21) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) slam dunks trailed by Wayland Baptist’s Tahjae Hill (0) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Chrishon Dixon (3) drives down the court defended by Wayland Baptist’s Rodney Carson Jr. (24) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Bridger Deden (4) shoots defended by Wayland Baptist’s Jaxon Recer (23) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
A young fan holds up a sign during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Chrishon Dixon (3) passes past Wayland Baptist’s Joshua Tucker (14) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Ifeanyi Okeke (5) and Camdyn LaRance (2) contests a rebound with Wayland Baptist’s Tahjae Hill (0) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Bridger Deden (4) reacts during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Keeley Bake (12) drives past Wayland Baptist’s Bol Tong (21) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) claps while reacting to a game official call during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Caleb Bellach (10) shoots over Wayland Baptist’s Meikkel Murray (5) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Hayden Diekhans (11) reacts during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Chrishon Dixon (3) contests the ball with Wayland Baptist’s Joshua Tucker (14) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) passes the ball defended by Wayland Baptist’s Tahjae Hill (0) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
An Orediggers fan cheers during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) drives past Wayland Baptist’s Jahvonta Jones (1) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) reacts to a game official call during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech head coach Adam Hiatt shouts to the Orediggers during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Hayden Diekhans (11) contests the ball with Wayland Baptist’s Brett Leach (12) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Charlie Orediggers arm wrestles a young fan during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Michael Ure (42) fights Wayland Baptist’s D’Michael Bellfield (50) for the ball during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Chrishon Dixon (3) shoots defended by Wayland Baptist’s Brett Leach (12) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Members of the Orediggers women’s basketball and volleyball teams attempt to distract Wayland Baptist’s Meikkel Murray (5) as he shoots free-throws during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) slam dunks during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech women’s basketball player Macy Mayer (32) cheers for the Orediggers during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Caleb Bellach (10) passes defended by Wayland Baptist’s Jaxon Recer (23) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Wayland Baptist’s D’Michael Bellfield (50) fouls Montana Tech’s Michael Ure (42) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Hayden Diekhans (11) reacts during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Caleb Bellach (10) drives past Wayland Baptist’s Jaxon Recer (23) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Chrishon Dixon (3) shoots defended by Wayland Baptist’s Tahjae Hill (0) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Chrishon Dixon (3) contests a rebound with Wayland Baptist’s Jaxon Recer (23) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Camdyn LaRance (2) drive past Wayland Baptist’s Brett Leach (12) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
The Orediggers cheer from the bench during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) drives to the hoop defended by Wayland Baptist’s Meikkel Murray (5) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Ifeanyi Okeke (5) shoots during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) reacts to a referee call during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
A game official plays rock-paper-scissors with a fan during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Keeley Bake (12) is defended by Wayland Baptist’s Brett Leach (12) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) looks to pass defended by Wayland Baptist’s Jahvonta Jones (1) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) smiles as he greets Orediggers going into a huddle during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Camdyn LaRance (2) recovers a rebound as Wayland Baptist’s Quenton Coleman (11) reacts to a referee call against him during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) shoots defended by Wayland Baptist’s Quenton Coleman (11) and Rodney Carson Jr. (24) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Caleb Bellach (10) shoots defended by Wayland Baptist’s Brett Leach (12) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Caleb Bellach (10) is fouled by Wayland Baptist’s D’Michael Bellfield (50) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Wayland Baptist’s Tahjae Hill (0) speaks with D’Michael Bellfield (50) after a foul was called against Bellfield during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) reacts during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Keeley Bake (12) drives downt he court defended by Wayland Baptist’s Rodney Carson Jr. (24) during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
The Orediggers celebrate their 75-67 win over the Wayland Baptist Pioneers during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Montana Tech’s Asa Williams (1) shoots finger guns after the Orediggers 75-67 win over the Wayland Baptist Pioneers during the first round of NAIA championships on Friday, March 15, 2024 at the HPER Complex in Butte.
Gavin Derkatch is a sports reporter for the Montana Standard. Follow him on Twitter @GDerkatch or email him gavin.derkatch@406mtsports.com
