Mines vs. Westminster, Friday, 3 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
Mines vs. South Dakota Mines, Saturday, 3 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
 

---

SCHEDULE CHANGE
Note that Saturday's doubleheader has been moved up by two hours to start times of 1 p.m. (women) and 3 p.m. (men). This is a change from the previously announced 3 and 5 p.m. times.

KEEP ON ROLLING
After dropping road games at Black Hills State and South Dakota Mines to start the month, Mines bounced back with huge road wins at MSU Denver and UCCS before the holiday break. The Orediggers dominated wire-to-wire in a 73-51 win at Metro State, then turned a 14-point deficit into an 81-60 win in Colorado Springs the next night. The win means Mines is tied for fourth in the RMAC with MSU Denver and Westminster at 4-2, a game back of Colorado Christian and CSU-Pueblo and two behind unbeaten Fort Lewis (6-0).

RECENT HISTORY
Mines and Westminster will meet for the second time since the Griffins joined the RMAC last year. Mines won 67-50 in Salt Lake City last year, paced by Caleb Waitsman's 16-point, eight-rebound night and Gokul Natesan's 18 points that included a 10-for-10 pace at the line. The Orediggers will meet South Dakota Mines for the second time in five games after the Hardrockers won 74-63 in Rapid City back on Dec. 10. Natesan scored 33 in that game, including a 17-of-18 showing at the line, but SDSMT's Konor Kulas had 18 and Marco Pascolo had 16 points and 11 boards in the win.

NATESAN MAKING HIS MARK
Gokul Natesan continues to move his way up the Mines record book in his senior season. Natesan now has 1,609 points in his career (14th on the all-time list), and also ranks among the best in Mines history in assists (320, 4th), steals (203, 3rd), three-pointers (228, 4th), and free throws (445, 2nd). Natesan is only the third player in program history – and first since 1996 - to notch 1,500+ points, 300+ assists, and 200+ steals, joining Raul Varela and Mike Ziegler.

MINES QUICK LOOK
Mines is 9-3 and 4-2 in conference play as they hope to keep the momentum from their pre-break wins going. Natesan (20.3 ppg, 3.2 apg, 2.3 spg) has been of the RMAC's best two-way players, while sharpshooter Luke Schroepfer (12.4 ppg) is making three-pointers at a .518 clip. Caleb Waitsman anchors the front court with 10.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while Ben Clare has been the season's breakout player averaging 6.5 points and 4.4 boards while shooting a team-best .646.

SCOUTING WESTMINSTER
The Griffins are 4-4 overall but 4-2 in RMAC play to sit tied for fourth in the league table with the Orediggers. WC are middle of the pack in the league averaging 73.9 points per game, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 44.1 percent from beyond the arc, but they are second in the conference in foul shooting at 78.0 percent. Both Dayon Goodman (16.5 ppg) and Zerrion Payton (13.9 ppg) are inside the RMAC's top-20 in scoring average, while Travis Devashrayee leads the RMAC by making 70.6 percent from three while placing third with his 64.9 field goal percentage. The Griffins are second in the RMAC with 3.8 blocks per game.

SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA MINES
Led by RMAC scoring leader Konor Kulas, SDSMT is out to a 7-5 overall mark and 3-3 in RMAC play. Kulas is producing 20.9 points per game (just a few ticks ahead of Natesan in second), and is second in the league with 9.3 rebounds per game. After Kulas, the Hardrockers are seeing contributions from junior Brian Orr and senior Marco Pascolo who are both earning 10.6 ppg, while senior Jamall Taylor is averaging 9.3 ppg and freshman Jake Heath is putting in 8.8 ppg. As a team, the Hardrockers are scoring 72 points and allowing 70.8 points a game. SD Mines also boasts the league's top rebounding defense, allowing just 28 rpg by opposing squads.