Box Score

New Mexico Highlands scored twice late to take the lead, then held on to stop Colorado School of Mines, 70-68, Saturday night.

Ron Lawton and Marlon Johnson made consecutive buckets in the closing minutes to break open a tie game, and Mines was denied a chance at a game-winning shot after an out-of-bounds call was overturned on review with less than a second to go.

The Orediggers (9-4, 4-3 RMAC) had cut the Cowboys' () lead to a point after Gokul Natesan made a free throw and Caleb Waitsman hit a reverse layup with 11 seconds to go. Lawton missed a free throw at the other end, but the Orediggers lost the ball in traffic and NMHU hit a foul shot with 0.1 seconds left to ice it.

It capped a back-and-forth game that saw eight lead changes and as many ties. Neither team led by more than seven in the game.

Natesan led the way with 23 points, one of four Orediggers in double figures along with Luke Schroepfer (12 points, a career-high), Waitsman (12 points, 10 rebounds), and Adam Laine (10 points) Johnson drained a game-high 33 for the Cowboys.

NOTABLES
- Gokul Natesan will have a chance to score his 1,000th career point at home next weekend, sitting at 986 after his 23-point night. The junior had an impressive night overall with six rebounds, five assists, a steal, and an 8-of-12 performance at the line.
- Luke Schroepfer's 12 points topped his previous career-best of 10 set against Evangel earlier this season.
- Waitsman's double-double was his second of the season (Colorado Christian) and seventh of his career.
- Mines shot 46% for the game and was 7-of-18 from beyond the arc and 15-of-20 at the line. Highlands settled at 53.1% for the game (including a blistering 60% first half) and drained 5-of-12 threes and went 13-of-20 at the stripe.

NEXT UP
Mines returns home to face Adams State Friday, Jan. 8 at 7 p.m.