Tech men trounce Tech, 70-61

By Bill Foley - 11/14/2009

The Orediggers caught fire early in the second half Friday night, and the Montana Tech men's basketball team rode the heat wave to a 70-61 come-for-behind victory over South Dakota Tech at the HPER Complex.

Kellen Hasquet scored 11 of Montana Tech's first 15 points of the first half to lead the charge for the Orediggers, who were playing without leading scorer Dean Colbray.

Colbray sprained an ankle in practice Thursday and sat out the game.

Montana Tech coach Nate Larson said he wasn't sure if Colbray would play Saturday when the Orediggers take on No. 2-ranked Black Hills State at 5 p.m. at the HPER Complex.

Hasquet hit three straight 3-pointers and drained a pull-up 2-point jumper to open the half on a 15-6 run to tie the game at 45.

"He's been really struggling," Larson said of the 6-foot-7 junior forward from Missoula. "He's finally getting into rhythm. He hits them in practice. They're finally falling for him in a game." Dirk Anderson, a 6-foot-7 junior post, scored 10 of his game-high 16 points in the second half.

Shawn Brooks, a 6-5 freshman, was huge on the glass for the Orediggers, pulling down eight of his game-high 10 rebounds after halftime.

"Our defense was outstanding," Larson said. "We told them at half time we have to keep No. 10 (A.J. Trennephol and No. 4 (Robbie Fedor) in check. They had 10 and 12 at halftime. That's what they had at the end of the game.

"In the grand scheme of things, our defense won it." The Hard rockers (3-2), who beat defending NAIA champion Rocky Mountain College earlier this season, led 39-30 at halftime.

After Hasquet's initial charge, the Orediggers trailed only three times — never by more than 2 points.

Brooks hit one of two free throws with 7 minutes, 23 seconds left in the second half to put Montana Tech up for good at 54-53.

A nifty reverse layup by Brooks with 1:30 to play put the Orediggers in control at 62-58.

Free throws and key rebounding led by Brooks iced the victory.

"One huge key was Shawn Brooks," Larson said. "He had some huge defensive rebounds for us when we needed some stops." Sophomore point guard A.J. Paine scored 11 points to go along with five assists. Tanner Neumann came off the bench to score eight points, while Brian Davison scored seven and Brooks tossed in six.

Neumann scored five of his points late in the first half to keep the game close.

"Tanner Neumann, what can you say?" Larson said. "He sparked us in the first half." The win lifted the Orediggers, who shot 52 percent from the floor in the second half, to 2-3, and it stopped a three-game losing streak. The win also kept Tech perfect on the Kelvin Sampson Court.

"The lid finally came off the hoop," Larson said. "To see us execute and hit shots is very rewarding — not only for us (coaches) but for the kids. It shows the hard work is paying off." The Hardrockers head to Billings for another showdown with Rocky on Saturday.

Tech, meanwhile, looks to go 3-0 at home.

Larson said he likes his chances against the high-powered Yellowjackets.

"We have confidence going in," Larson said. "Especially on the home court. Especially after this." SD TECH (3-2) — Kyle Turpin 2-5 4-4 8, Kyle Doerr 3-8 1-2 7, Scott May 2-4 0-0 4, Robbie Fedor 4-13 0-1 12, Nathan Jacobson 2-3 4-5 8, Tommy Smith 0-3 1-2 12, A.J. Trennopohl 2-8 4-4 10, Trevor Larson 1-3 0-0 2, Carl Johnson 2-2 1-2 5, Jordan Schmitz 1-3 2-2 4. Totals 19-52 17-22 61.

MONTANA TECH (2-3) — Kellen Hasquett 6-14 0-0 15, Dirk Anderson 6-9 4-4 16, Cole Conway 2-4 0-1 5, Brian Davison 3-7 0-0 5, A.J. Paine 4-11 3-4 11, Tanner Neumann 3-3 0-0 8, Josh Harris 0-0 0-0 0, Ivan Sljivar 0-1 0-0 0, Shawn Brooks 2-4 2-4 6, Eric Schippers 1-2 0-0 2, Hart Greenwood 0-0 0-1 0. Totals 27-55 9-14 70.

Halftime — SDT 39-30. 3-point goals — SDT 6-21 (Doerr 0-2, Fedor 4-11, Jacobson 0-1, Trennepohl 2-6, Larson 0-1), MT 7-20 (Hasquet 3-8, Conway 1-3, Davison 1-5, Paine 0-2, Neumann 2-2). Rebounds — SDT 35 (Doerr 5, Trennepohl 5, Johnson 5), MT 34 (Brooks 10). Assists — SDT 10 (May 3, Fedor 3), MT 1 (Paine 5). Steals — SDT 7 (Jacobson 3), MT 6 (Hasquet 2, Paine 2). Blocks — SDT 1 (Larson), MT 3 (Anderson 2, Davison 1). Turnovers — SDT 16, MT.15 Fouls — SDT 18, MT 19. Fouled out — Conway. Technicals — none.