GOLDEN – Led by another stellar shooting performance from the perimeter, as well as six players in double figures, the No. 19 Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team went over the century mark for the second time this season in a 108-69 throttling of visiting Western New Mexico on Friday evening at Lockridge Arena.
Mines (5-0, 1-0 RMAC) carried a 17-point lead into the break and put up 60 points in the second-half en route to a season-high in points. Mines posted a 36-to-28 advantage in the paint, a 22-to-16 advantage in points off turnovers and was aided greatly by a the squad's bench, who posted a ridiculous 53-to-16 scoring advantage in the win.
In all, 11 players scored for the Orediggers – entering the weekend one of the top scoring teams in the nation – led by junior Brian Muller, who finished 7-of-8 from the floor and a perfect 5-of-5 from the perimeter on the way to a game-high 21 points. The Billings, Mont., native added two assists and two steals as well in 22 minutes of action.
Rookie Gokul Natesan led the bench and finished second on the squad with 18 points on a 6-of-10 shooting effort from the floor, including a 4-of-6 mark from 3-point land. The Santa Clara, Calif., native added five assists and a steal in 21 minutes on the floor.
In all, Mines finished 12-of-18 (66.7 percent) from 3-point range, including nine long-range buckets combined from Muller and Natesan.
Senior Will Carr managed to improve upon his 92.3 field goal percentage on the season entering the contest with a 7-of-7 effort form the floor en route to 14 points in 13 minutes of action. Over his last two contests, Carr is a perfect 14-of-14 and 19-of-20 from the floor on the year for a 95.0 shooting percentage.
Sophomore Ry Walter notched 13 points off the bench on 4-of-5 shooting and a 3-of-4 mark from long range while adding four rebounds. Senior Trevor Wages added another double-double with 10 points and 10 boards on a 5-of-9 shooting effort and senior Luke Meisch added 11 points as well with most coming at the free throw line after the Wichita, Kan., product finished 9-of-10 from the charity stripe.
Junior Trevor Ritchie notched eight assists (one turnover) while adding five points and senior Brett Green added eight points on a 4-of-8 shooting effort.
Friday's victory pushed seven players into double figures for scoring average on the season for the Orediggers.
Mines also posted a plus-17 rebounding margin in the win and notched 25 assists on 35 made baskets.
The squad will close out its RMAC-opening weekend on Saturday with a 7 p.m. matchup against New Mexico Highlands at Lockridge Arena in Golden.
