Box Score

A huge second half lifted #15 Colorado School of Mines to an 83-61 win at Adams State Saturday night.

The Orediggers (7-2, 2-1 RMAC) outscored the Grizzlies (3-5, 2-1 RMAC) 49-29 in the second half after ASU tied it with the opening bucket of the period, shooting a blistering 59.3 percent after halftime and 53.7 percent for the game. Mines put together runs of 10-0, 6-0, and 8-0 in the second half to blow the game open after an entertaining first half that saw eight ties and six lead changes.

Gokul Natesan poured in 25 points, including six three-pointers, and grabbed a career-high nine rebounds. Kaan Korkmaz continued to be a spark off the bench with 11 points, including a 7-for-7 night at the line, and Garrett Loew and Joe Dellenbach each added 10 points.

Mines' 10-0 run out of a tie 34-34 game early in the second half ultimately made the different, as Natesan and Dellenbach hit threes around Caleb Waitsman's layup, and Dellenbach capped the spurt with a dunk to stretch their lead to 44-34 at the 16:54 mark.

The Orediggers all but put the game away on consecutive three-pointers from Dellenbach and Loew in the middle of the half, taking their lead to an unassailable 19 points. They never led by fewer than 17 the rest of the way, winning going away with their lead going as high as 27 in the closing minutes.

NOTABLES
- After a tough shooting night Friday at Fort Lewis, Mines bounced back in a big way going 29-of-54 overall from the floor, 11-of-25 for three, and a solid 14-of-19 from the line. 
- Natesan also tied his career-high for three-pointers with six. He also did it against UCCS last season and earlier this year versus Lubbock Christian. 
- Dellenbach continued his consistent play with his third 10+ point game in the last four outings. He has also gone over 10 points and five assists twice in that span.
- Mines has relied on everyone to clean up the boards this year, and it shows in the stats as Natesan is the seventh different rebounding leader out of nine games. The Orediggers hold a +3.7 rebounding average this year, and dominated ASU 37-24.
- Mines committed a season-high 18 turnovers but limited the damage defensively as the Grizzlies scored only 11 points off of them. CSM, meanwhile, generated 26 points off 16 ASU giveaways.
- The Orediggers limited ASU star Shakir Smith, averaging 24.2 points per game, to 14 points in 32 minutes.

NEXT UP
Mines returns home next weekend to host Colorado Mesa Friday night at 7 p.m.