BUTTE – Day 2 of the PayneWest Tip Off Classic featured two men’s basketball games and one women’s game on the slate of events.
First, the Carroll College and Warner Pacific men tipped off at 3 p.m. Much like their game against Montana Tech the Warner Pacific Knights lit it up from beyond the arc. Collin Malcolm finished with 30 points to lead all scorers. Carroll was able to counter the Knights’ perimeter shooting by working the ball down low and hitting some big shots of its own. Ife Kalejaiye and Match Burnham combined for 26 points. Carroll would hold on for a 75-66 win.
The women took the court in the second game of the day. Montana Tech hosting Calumet. From the opening tip the Diggers had a huge size advantage over the Crimson Wave. Shay Potter did her work per usual, dropping 19 points, and sharpshooter Mesa Williams also racked up 19 points on 3-of-5 shooting from 3-point land. Mollie Peoples, Chelstina Faletoi, and Sharlei Bernisto also added valuable minutes in the Diggers’ 100-61 win, which also gave them a PayneWest Tip Off Classic sweep.
To cap off the night the men returned to the court with Montana Tech playing Dickinson State. The Diggers found success early on both sides of the ball. Dylan Pannabecker and Taylor England found great success down low and in the mid-range. Pannabecker finished with 26 points, and England chipped in a solid 21. Dickinson State made it interesting in the second half, cutting the 20-point Digger halftime lead to just six with about 10 minutes to go, but Tech held on for a 91-81 win.
