January 30, 2026

HELENA, Mont. – The Frontier Conference basketball action returns to SWX Local Sports live broadcast Saturday evening as four NAIA’s Top 25 nationally ranked teams are set to battle at Fortin Education Center in Billings, Mont.

Rocky Mountain (Mont.) hosts Montana Tech in the Frontier Conference doubleheader, starting with the women’s game at 5 p.m. (Mountain Time).  The men’s game follows at 7 p.m. (MT).

There are four weekends remaining on the Frontier Conference regular season schedule.  The postseason conference tournament takes place at Civic Center in Butte, Mont., from Feb. 27 through March 2.

Women’s
The tri-Frontier Conference leader Montana Tech (16-2 overall record), ranked No. 13 in the latest NAIA Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25, is scheduled to visit (RV) Carroll (Mont.) Friday evening before heading to Billings on Saturday.  Rocky Mountain (Mont.), ranked No. 23 in the national poll and trailed by two games behind the conference’s leader, hosts Montana Western Friday evening before the NAIA’s Top 25 battle on Saturday evening.

The Orediggers, Fighting Saints, and Dakota State (S.D.) are in a three-way tie for first place in the league with 12-2 record.  The Battlin’ Bears (13-7 overall record) are 10-4 record in the conference, sitting in sole possession for fourth place in the standings.
MT is coming off from their second straight victory, defeating their traveling partner Montana Western on Jan. 23.  The Orediggers held on to defeat the Bulldogs 71-65.  RMC fell short to Carroll 61-52 on Jan. 23 in Helena.

Montana Tech erupted for 25 fourth-quarter points to rally back past Rocky Mountain in the first Frontier Conference meet on Dec. 5, 2025, in Butte.  The Battlin’ Bears jumped to a 23-15 first quarter lead and extended their lead to 36-22 by halftime.  RMC then ballooned their lead to 52-34 after three quarters but was held to just four points in the fourth quarter to allow MT storm back for a 59-56 win.

Montana Tech also snapped their five-game losing skid in the last meeting with Rocky Mountain. 

RMC is 8-0 record at home this season, while MT is 7-2 record on the road.  Rocky Mountain had won the last 13 home meetings with Montana Tech since the 2017-18 season.

Men’s
Rocky Mountain, who cracked inside the NAIA’s Top 25 national poll for the first time this season earlier this week at No. 23, carries their seven-game winning streak before heading to this weekend’s contests.  The Battlin’ Bears are tied with (RV) Bellevue (Neb.) for first place in the league standings with 12-2 record each.

Montana Tech is 16-4 overall record and 10-4 record in the Frontier Conference, sitting in sole possession for fourth place. 

RMC extended their winning streak to seven after holding off their traveling partner Carroll 86-82 on Jan. 23.  MT returned to their winning column after holding off their traveling partner Montana Western 68-64 in Dillon on Jan. 23.

Rocky Mountain won the first Frontier Conference meeting with Montana Tech on Dec. 5, 2025, in Butte.  The Battlin’ Bears held on a 36-31 halftime lead and pulled away for an 81-70 road victory.

Both teams alternated victories in the last six meetings, with RMC winning the last meeting.  Rocky Mountain and Montana Tech met four times last season, splitting all games (2-2 record).

The Battlin’ Bears are 8-0 record at home this season, while the Orediggers are 6-1 record on the road.

SWX Local Sports Frontier Basketball Doubleheader
Six different doubleheaders will be broadcast live throughout Montana on SWX stations throughout the conference basketball season. Fans can follow along with all the action at the Frontier Conference by downloading the SWX Local Sports App through the App Store or Google Play Store or by visiting their website.

SWX Local Sports will also broadcast both Frontier Conference women’s and men’s basketball championships games on Monday, March 2 in Butte, Mont.

The image below displays the SWX Local Sports coverage map. 
The next FC basketball televised broadcast on SWX Local Sports will be on Saturday, Feb. 14 as Carroll (Mont.) hosts MSU-Northern.

Saturday’s doubleheader slate includes:

• Bellevue (Neb.) @ Valley City State (N.D.) - in Moorhead, Minn.
• Dakota State (S.D.) @ Mayville State (N.D.)
• MSU-Northern @ Bismarck State (N.D.)
• Providence (Mont.) @ Dickinson State (N.D.) - Men's Only
• Montana Western @ Carroll (Mont.)

Visit fcsports.org for more information on all the Frontier Conference matchups for the upcoming weekend.

Don’t forget to download the Frontier Conference app, in partnership with Snap! Mobile.  The app is free to download in the App Store on Apple or Google Play for Android.  Click here to download the Frontier Conference app.