KEARNEY, Neb. – Led by a six players in double figures, including a 17-point, 14-rebound performance by sophomore Caleb Waitsman, the Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team opened up the 2014-15 campaign on Saturday with a 91-83 victory over Nebraska-Kearney at the Health & Sports Center in Kearney, Neb. 

Mines (1-0) saw four players score 15-plus points in the win, bolstered by better than 58 percent shooting from both the floor and the perimeter. The Lopers (0-1) finished just 7-of-21 (33.3 percent) from downtown in the loss. 

Waitsman finished 6-of-10 from the floor and 5-of-7 from the foul line on the way to his first-career double-double. He added two assists on the offensive end and notched a block and three steals defensively, as well as 10 defensive rebounds of his 14 total. 

Senior Brian Muller, a 2013-14 All-RMAC selection, finished 5-of-10 from the floor, including 2-for-3 from long range on the way to 17 points. The Billings, Mont., product finished 5-of-6 from the foul line as well. 

Sophomore and reigning RMAC Freshman of the Year Gokul Natesan was the third member of the squad with 17 points and recorded his on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, including a 1-for-1 mark from the perimeter.  He added five assists and three steals in 32 minutes of action. 

Senior and returning All-RMAC selection Trevor Ritchie added 15 points and a game-high six assists, in addition to a pair of rebounds, a block and two steals defensively. The Portland, Ore., native finished 6-of-9 from the floor and 2-of-2 from the perimeter. 

Junior Joe Dellenbach added 11 points and three blocks and redshirt freshman Zach Rusk added 10 on a perfect shooting night (3-for-3 field, 3-for-3 line). 

Mines will open up its home slate next weekend when the squad hosts South Dakota Mines on Saturday, Nov. 22, at Lockridge Arena in Golden.