BUTTE, Mont. – Warrior Men's Basketball, receiving votes in the national poll, wrapped up the Best Western Tipoff Classic on Saturday with a 94-77 loss to (RV) Montana Tech. LC State put together multiple runs to chip away at the deficit late in the game, but the Orediggers outlasted the Warriors down the stretch.
"Tough weekend in Montana for the Warriors," coach
Austin Johnson said. "Really struggled all weekend defensively and with rebounding. Didn't compete or match the physicality of our opponents. Hopefully that's something we can correct and get more improvement with. Excited to see how this group responds moving forward."
Dylan Skaife led LC State with 15 points and
Jamare' Childs added 14 with three 3-pointers.
The loss has the LC State record at 2-3 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Baskets by
Titus Yearout,
Brandon Suber and
Dallon Morgan helped LC State keep pace with Montana Tech through the first five minutes and a 3-pointer by
Royce Fisher gave the Warriors a 13-12 edge at 12:55. The Orediggers began to pull away midway through the half before triples by Fisher and
Dylan Victorio helped LC get its offense back on track.
Childs netted a 3 and tallied free throws in the final minutes, but the Diggers led 52-37 at the break.
LC State turned things around early in the second half to cut into the Montana Tech lead. Skaife hit a 3 and
Josh Salguero added a layup to start the Warrior offense, and another pair of baskets by Salguero had the deficit at 59-48 at 16:23.
Baskets by Yearout, Skaife and Fisher had the score at 68-54 at 11:06, and Childs added a pair of 3s to make it 78-65 at 5:56. Free throws by Skaife and Fisher closed out the scoring for the Warriors.
STAT RECAP
Skaife led the Warriors with 15 points including an 8-for-8 performance at the free throw line. Childs added 14 points with three 3-pointers and two steals, and both Morgan and Fisher scored 10 points.
Suber and Morgan led LC with five rebounds each and Suber dished out three assists.
LC State shot 45% from the field and made 15-of-20 free throw attempts.
UP NEXT
LC State hosts NCAA Division III Whitman in an exhibition contest on Nov. 11. Tipoff in the P1FCU Activity Center is set for 6 p.m.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
