BUTTE, Mont. – The University of Providence men's basketball program fell to #11 Montana Tech 81-56 Saturday night.  

The Argos (9-9) scored the first points of the game on a layup from senior Antoine Boyd Jr. but Montana Tech (16-2) quickly responded with a layup of their own to tie the score 2-2.

Both sides traded baskets over the next seven minutes until layups from Boyd Jr., senior Mike Wright Jr., and senior Jamil Bowles gave the Argos a 20-13 advantage.

Montana Tech answered with an 8-0 run, but a layup from senior Nikolajs Atanasovs put UP in front 22-21.

The Orediggers continued their momentum taking a seven-point lead, but the Argos slowly cut into the Montana Tech advantage the rest of the half as UP went into the break trailing 37-34. Antoine Boyd Jr. led the way with ten points in the first half for UP.

The Argos opened the second half with a layup from Boyd Jr., and following a three from the Orediggers, a three-pointer from Wright Jr. made it a one-point game.

Over the next six minutes Montana Tech extended their lead out to 16 to make it 57-41 with 12 minutes remaining.

The Orediggers quickly extended the lead to 20 and despite late pressure from the Argos, UP fell to #11 Montana Tech 81-56.

The Argos will be back in action Jan. 23 when they travel to Billings, Mont. for a matchup with Rocky Mountain College. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Fortin Education Center.