SALT LAKE CITY – The Westminster men's basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak with a 69-64 win over Montana Tech on Thursday night in the Behnken Field House.
Westminster (9-10, 2-4 Frontier) came out looking to take advantage of their home court by scoring the game's first eight points. After Montana Tech (13-7, 4-2) had it back within five at the 14:44 mark of the first half, Westminster ran off 12 straight points for its largest lead of the game, 22-5, with 9:04 to play in the period.
 
"I thought our effort for the first 10 minutes of the game was terrific," head coach Adam Hiatt said of his team. "We were bouncing around and as a result we played loose on the offensive end."
 
The visitors then started to chip away and when Antonio Snow made a three with 4:05 on the first half clock, the deficit was down to 24-20. The Griffins were able to recover from the run with 13 of the final 20 points of the half, going 4-of-6 from the floor and making all three of their shots from deep to hit intermission leading, 37-27.
 

Trevor Bamgartner with 7 points as the Griffins hold off @MTechDiggers, 69-64. #GoGriffins #NAIADIMBB pic.twitter.com/G1rwJiigYq

— Westminster Griffins (@wc_griffins) January 30, 2015

Kenny Woodard made a three from the left corner that out Westminster back in front by 13 less than three minutes into the second half. It was the largest lead they had of the half as Montana Tech continued to apply pressure and the Orediggers used a 17-6 run midway through the half to get within 51-49 with 8:34 to play.
 
The Griffins only made two field goals over the final 10:10 of action, but they went 14-of-19 at the foul line to hold off the rally. They also limited Montana Tech to just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc in the final 10 minutes with the lone make coming with 1.1 seconds to play.
 
Westminster finished the game shooting 39.2 percent from the floor and with only six seven half baskets. They were 6-of-18 from beyond the arc and 23-of-29 (79.3) percent at the foul line. The Griffins held Tech to 37.1 percent shooting and only 4-of-19 (21.1 percent) from three. They forced 14 turnovers and turned them into 12 points.
 
Quincy Bair and Casey Evans led the way with 13 points apiece. Woodard added 11 points off the bench – making all six of his free throws – and Colton Moon added 10 points and three steals. Moon had a steal and a basket with 3:16 to play that turned the game around and pushed the advantage back to four.
 
"I felt the steal by Moon was the momentum changing play of the game," Hiatt said of the late steal. "I was really proud of the senior to step up in the situation."
 
Snow led four Orediggers in double figures with 16 points. Brandon Rydberg added 13 points and seven rebounds as the team had a 43-39 edge on the boards with 17 offensive rebounds.
 
Westminster will look for a second straight win on Saturday when they welcome Lewis-Clark State to the Behnken Field House. That game will tip at 7:30 p.m. MT and tickets are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.