GOLDEN, Colo. - Big nights by Caleb Waitsman and Gokul Natesan paced #19 Colorado School of Mines to a 78-66 win over Chadron State in their RMAC opener.

Waitsman drained 23 points with nine rebounds on 10-of-15 shooting while Natesan was 7-of-9 and 10-of-12 at the line for 25 points in the win. The Orediggers improved to 6-1 this season.

Mines took control of the game with an early 13-0 run and never gave up the lead. After Chadron led 5-0 to start the game, Zach Rusk's three-pointer got Mines on the board and they held Chadron scoreless for a 5:10 span to build a 13-5 lead. 

The Eagles chipped away to get the lead to six at the half, 36-30, but Mines used another 13-0 run - keyed by three straight buckets by Waitsman - to blow it open 51-32 at the midpoint of the second half. Chadron hung around and got as close as seven points late in the half, but the Orediggers shut the door with solid foul shooting down the stretch to re-establish a double digit lead in a late 9-2 run.

NOTABLES
- Gokul Natesan became the 14th player in program history to cross 1,500 career points. The senior now has 1,512 points.
- Waitsman's 23 points were his career high in a regulation game. The senior had four offensive boards among his nine.
- Mines shot 52 percent for the game after a 57.7 percent first half. Mines was also 23-of-30 (76.7%) from the line. Chadron was held to 42.9 percent shooting overall. 
- The Eagles were paced by Darius Polley's 25 points.
- Ben Sonnefeld pitched in nine points and three assists. The Mines bench added 11 points led by Murphy Gershman's seven points and six boards.
- Ben Clare earned his first start of the season and second of his career, scoring six points and snaring seven rebounds in the win.
- Mines has won 19 straight games over the Eagles.

NEXT UP
Mines will meet up with Regis Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Lockridge Arena.