COSTA MESA, Calif. – Vanguard's Bryson Metz hit a go-ahead jumper in the final minute and the Lions held on to the lead upsetting the No. 7 Montana Tech men's basketball team 83-80.
After a back-and-forth battle early in the game, the Lions built an eight point lead in the first half with 4:58 to go 34-26. The Orediggers rallied back before the end of the half to pull within two 37-35.
The Orediggers (7-2) came out hot after the break leading by as many as nine in the second half. With 4:33 left in the game, the Lions (7-2) went on a 12-4 run to tie up the score at 77 before the go-ahead jumper from Metz.
Tech hit just 7 of 25 from three-point range, but shot 47.1% from the field. The Orediggers led 35-31 in rebounds and had 19 second chance points.
Tech finished with 13 turnovers and 13 assists.
Hayden Diekhans led the Orediggers with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Diekhans went 9 for 12 from the field.
Michael Ure had 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists while shooting 7 for 14 from the and 2 for 4 from long.
Asa Williams had 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Phillip Willis led Vanguard with 27 points going 4 for 5 from three-point range. Willis made 9 of 10 from the free throw line and finished with 8 rebounds.
Jackson Larsen had 18 points going 9 for 10 from the field with 8 rebounds.
Montana Tech is at Stanton University on Sunday with tip-off at 3 p.m.