CALDWELL, Idaho - The Multnomah University men's basketball team played their first of two games in the Taco Bell Shootout Tournament against Montana Tech (3-2) on Friday night, but Montana Tech held the Lions to 37% shooting and closed out a 76-96 victory.

The Diggers jumped out to a 50-38 lead of the NAIA leading Lions who average over 100 points per game.  Montana Tech held Multnomah to 38.8% shooting in the first half while shooting 55.5% themselves. As a team the Lions struggled shooting from the field, going 25-66, but in his best game so far as a Lion, junior Grant Balvanz hit 6 threes to add 18 points off the bench, and senior Stepan Zavydovskyy swatted away 4 shots to help protect the paint.

Coming fresh off a Cascade Conference Player of the Week award, senior guard Justin Martin lead the Lions in scoring yet again finishing with 27 points and 5 assists.

Montanta Tech's Sindou Diallo was a force to be reckoned with, going 16-25 from the feild and scoring 35 points as he willed the Diggers to a victory. 

The Lions look to get back on track Saturday night when they match up against Portland Bible College at 5:00 PM.