SPEARFISH, S.D. – A 19-to-5 advantage in bench scoring, including a 12-point effort from freshman Ruben Jackson led the Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team to a 69-54 win over Black Hills State on Friday evening at the Donald E. Young Center.
Mines (12-10, 9-9 RMAC) shot 51.1 percent (23-of-45) from the field, 60 percent (9-of-15) from the perimeter and 70 percent (14-of-20) from the foul line in the win. The squad's nine 3-point baskets on Friday evening tied a season high that was set in the squad's season-opening overtime win over Minot State.
Junior Luke Meisch led a balanced scoring attack with 15 points on a 3-of-6 effort from the floor, including an 8-of-10 mark from the foul line while also adding three boards and two assists.
Fellow junior Trevor Wages recorded his ninth double-double of the season, and the 19th of his career, with a 14-point, 15-rebound effort on Friday. He finished 6-of-10 from the floor and added two assists and a steal in 26 minutes of action.
Jackson added 12 points off the bench and two assists on a 4-of-4 shooting effort, including a 2-of-2 mark from both the foul line and the perimeter in 13 minutes of action. Fellow rookie Ry Walter, making his first start of the season, added eight points and a steal on a 3-of-3 shooting effort, including a 2-of-2 mark from downtown.
Sophomore Brian Muller added 11 points and a team-high three assists to round out the four Orediggers in double figures.
Strong defense limited BHSU (5-17, 4-14 RMAC) offensively all night. The Yellow Jackets were not able to record a shooting percentage higher than 40 percent in either half, and the squad shot just 3-of-16 from the perimeter.
Mines shot a blistering 57.7 percent (15-of-26) in the first half – led by a 7-of-9 effort from 3-point land in taking a 13-point, 40-27 lead at recess.
The second half was much more competitive, but BHSU was not able to cut into Mines' strong halftime advantage, allowing the Orediggers to nix their losing skid and sweep the season series with a 69-56 victory.
The squad will close out a four-game road swing tomorrow with an 8 p.m. matchup against Chadron State in Chadron, Neb.
