LUBBOCK, Texas - #21 Colorado School of Mines held off a late charge by St. Mary's (Texas) to win their season opener, 87-81, at Lubbock Christian University.
The Orediggers shot 54.5 percent for the game but needed some late breaks to go their way after the Rattlers nearly erased a double-digit Mines lead in the closing minutes.
Caleb Waitsman had a terrific game shooting 8-of-10 for 20 points, while
Gokul Natesan poured in a team-high 23 with four assists.
Murphy Gershman had a career-high 15 points with six boards off the bench.
Mines led 42-38 at halftime after shooting a solid 56.7 percent in the opening period, but St. Mary's closed a double-digit gap before the break with solid foul shooting and better looks from outside the arc.
The Orediggers built up a double-digit lead in the second half at 71-60, but St. Mary's 15-6 run brought it to a single point, 77-76, at the 3:55 mark. Mines put some air in the lead thanks to Natesan's wide-open look underneath and his pair of free throws before AJ McGlown's layup drew it to 84-80 with a minute to go, then took advantage of two missed Mines free throws and a foul to get within a bucket on Will Ferguson's free throw with 36 seconds left.
A shot clock violation on Mines gave St. Mary's one last look with 5.1 seconds left, but they turned the ball over and Waitsman's dunk off the inbound drew an and-one opportunity that he finished to seal the win.
NOTABLES
- Gershman's previous career-high in scoring was 13, also done against St. Mary's in last year's season opener in Golden.
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Ben Clare's game-high nine rebounds more than doubled his previous career best of four set against UC San Diego last year.
- Mines shot 54.5 percent to St. Mary's 53.8 percent for the game. The Ratters made nine three-pointers to Mines' four, but the Orediggers went to the line 12 more times (23-of-38).
- Bench production was key for Mines as frontcourt starters Waitsman and
Felix Scheytt got into early foul trouble. The Mines bench produced 31 points led by Gershman's 15 and
Kaan Korkmaz's nine.
- Mines held a decisive 33-25 rebounding lead.
- St. Mary's turned the ball over 18 times (14 unforced) leading to 25 Mines points.
- Scheytt's start was the first of his career.
- Waitsman had the first basket of the season with a turnaround post-up move on Mines' first possession of the game.
- Mines improved to 3-0 all-time against St. Mary's.
- Mines has now won nine consecutive season openers dating back to 2008-09.
NEXT UP
Mines will play the hosts Lubbock Christian Saturday at 6 p.m. MST.
