Box Score
HOW IT HAPPENED
Colorado School of Mines was unable to overcome 16 CSU-Pueblo three-pointers as they fell, 90-80 in a RMAC contest on Friday, January 22.
The Thunderwolves (12-6, 8-4) shot over 60% from the field and from beyond the three-point line to outshoot the Orediggers (12-6, 7-5).
The first half saw Mines struggle a bit shooting to start and CSU-Pueblo absolutely cooking from deep as they sank 11 of their 16 three-pointers before the break.
Pueblo got out to an early 16-8 lead until the Orediggers finally found their footing and got the lead down to three midway through the first half due to in large part to a three-pointer from Zach Rusk. The Thunderwolves lead stayed within two baskets until back-to-back long balls from Will Newman pushed their advantage out to 13 (32-19) around the eight-minute mark.
The CSU-Pueblo three pointers continued to rain down as three different Thunderwolves buried long balls to get out 45-22 lead with four minutes remaining in the half. While Gokul Natesan tied to bring the Orediggers back with two long range bombs of his own - including a halftime buzzerbeater - it wasn't enough as Pueblo took a 53-38 advantage into the halftime break.
Unfortunately for CSM, the halftime intermission didn't cool off the Thunderwolves as they kept raining down buckets. Mines twice got the Pueblo lead down to 10 over the first nine minutes, but each CSU-P responded with another three-point dagger.
From there, Colorado State-Pueblo proceeded to methodically grow its lead as they eventually led by as much as 19 (85-55) with 6:52 to go. Over the final six minutes the Orediggers went on an 25-5 run, but it was too little too late as they fell, 90-80.
NOTABLES
- Natesan led the Orediggers with 20 points and four assists, shooting 5-of-6 from beyond the arc. He ended up wearing #52 in the second half after a shoulder to the nose seconds before he hit his halfcourt buzzerbeater at the end of the first half drew blood.
- Adam Laine was the only other Oredigger in double figures at 14 points.
- Murphy Gershman put in a terrific shift in the second half. In only 11 minutes, he compiled seven points, a team-high eight rebounds, and three assists.
- Mines, to its credit, had an above-average three-point shooting night at 11-for-23 (47.8%) but couldn't keep up with Pueblo's incredible 16-for-26 (61.5%) clip. CSUP shot 60.4% overall to Mines' 39.3%, despite 18 Thunderwolves turnovers.
- Pueblo put five in double figures led by Syrus McDonald (16) and Odessa Lear (15 points, 10 rebounds).
NEXT UP
Mines will look to bounce back Saturday night against Western State at 7 p.m.
