GOLDEN, Colo. - #13 Colorado School of Mines couldn't shut down a hot-shooting Wayland Baptist squad as they fell 78-76 in their home opener.

The Orediggers (4-1) suffered their first loss of the season to a very athletic Pioneers (7-1) squad, who are a member of NAIA Division 1.
 
Gokul Natesan paced Mines with 21 points, and Luke Schroepfer and Ben Clare had 14 apiece, the latter a career-high. WBU's Louis Timms had an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double and Maurice Redmond scored 15.
 
After WBU controlled much of the first with Mines shooting only 24.1 percent, Mines turned it around with 53.1 percent shooting after halftime and took its only lead of the half, when a Natesan layup put the Orediggers ahead 59-58 at the halfway point. WBU edged ahead as the two sides traded buckets, but Natesan's and-one with 7:24 to go tied it at 66 all.
 
Wayland Baptist then took control on a 6-0 run keyed by Redmond's three and Timms' dunk, but Mines chipped away with free throws by Ben Clare and Natesan cutting it to 74-73 with 1:28 to go. Russel Harrison and Natesan traded foul shots inside the final minute, and Redmon and Clare traded layups to make it 77-76 WBU with 20 seconds left. Mines had a shot to take the lead but Kaan Korkmaz's layup was blocked by Timms, and after Redmond made one of two foul shots, the Orediggers' final look didn't fall with two seconds remaining.
 
NOTABLES
- Foul shooting was huge for Mines as they sank 22 of 28 attempts to WBU's 10 of 15. Natesan made 9-of-11 from the stripe to lead all players.
- Caleb Waitsman led Mines with eight rebounds, and added three blocks.
- Clare has posted successive career highs in three consecutive games. He was a team-best 6-for-7 from the floor.
- Schroepfer shot 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and 3-for-3 at the line as part of his 14 points.
- Wayland Baptist had four starters in double figures with Russell Harrison (17) and Marshall Nelson (13) contributing to an outstanding 58.5 percent shooting day for the Pioneers.
- WBU held a 37-29 rebounding advantage, but Mines led 9-5 on the offensive glass.
- Mines' bench produced big again with 30 points, keyed by Clare's 14 and Korkmaz's 10.

NEXT UP
Mines will host Dine College Saturday at 5 p.m.