Box Score A balanced offensive attack helped #18 Colorado School of Mines stave off a Colorado Christian comeback attempt and win, 79-73, in the RMAC opener in Lakewood.
The Orediggers (6-1) had six players in double figures, including all five starters, led by Joe Dellenbach's career-high 17 points and Caleb Waitsman's 13-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Mines led wire-to-wire, but had to earn it after CCU (4-2) pared down a 16-point second-half deficit to six points in the closing minutes.
Mines suffered a nearly four-minute scoring drought after Waitsman made a pair of free throws with 5:05 left, but his tip-in at 1:51 put the lead at 10, 73-63. Stefan Hackethal hit a three-point play, however, and Ty McGee's layup with 27 seconds left cut it to a six-point game at 75-69.
The Orediggers shut the door, however, thanks to a pair of Gokul Natesan free throws, and two missed three-pointers by CCU and two more late Natesan foul shots sealed the victory.
NOTABLES
- Dellenbach's 17 points represented his second straight career-high after scoring 16 against Haskell in Mines' last outing. He shot 7-for-10 overall and hit three first-half three-pointers.
- Zach Rusk did a little bit of everything, nearing a triple-double with 10 points, seven boards, and a career-high seven assists.
- Natesan (12), Ben Sonnefeld (12), and Adam Laine (10) also hit double-digit scoring for Mines. Natesan struggled with 2-for-11 shooting, but pitched in a season-high eight rebounds and five assists.
- Waitsman's double-double came in only 21 minutes as he suffered through foul trouble in the second half.
- The Orediggers shot 44.4 percent overall after a 56 percent first half. CCU was held to 39.7 percent shooting.
- Mines dominated the glass, leading 46-35 in rebounding and limiting CCU to five offensive boards.
- Mines has now won five straight over CCU.
- McGee had a game-high 26 points and 16 rebounds for Colorado Christian, which included a 12-for-17 free throw night.
NEXT UP
Mines hits the road next weekend to visit Fort Lewis and Adams State.
