PUEBLO, Colo. - In a battle of two of the RMAC's top three teams, Colorado School of Mines' dominating post play ensured it wouldn't be much of a battle after all.
The Orediggers (16-3, 11-2 RMAC) kept up their red-hot form with their ninth straight win, beating CSU-Pueblo on the road 80-58 to stay a half-game back of first-place Fort Lewis in the league standings.
Mines feasted in the post all night long as
Ben Clare scored a career-high 17 and
Adam Laine added 16 points. The Orediggers pounded it in the paint to shoot 55.8 percent while holding the Thunderwolves (12-6, 10-3 RMAC) to 38.7 percent shooting.
The visitors never trailed as
Ben Sonnefeld hit the game's opening bucket and a later 12-2 run put Mines up 15, 24-9 at the midpoint of the first half. CSU-Pueblo would cut it as close as seven before the half, but a 14-2 run early in the second half put the game out of reach and Mines eventually ballooned the lead to more than 20.
NOTABLES
- Mines and CSU-Pueblo came into Saturday tied for second in the RMAC at 10-2 in league play, both a half-game behind Fort Lewis. FLC beat Chadron State Saturday night to improve to 12-2.
- Clare's career-best 17 points came a game after he notched his first career double-double in Tuesday's win against New Mexico Highlands. He was nearly perfect, making his first eight shots to go 8-for-9 and he added seven rebounds, a block, and an assist.
- Laine came off the bench to shoot 7-for-9.
- It was a relatively quiet night for Mines' guards but
Gokul Natesan (12 points, 4 assists), Sonnefeld (10 points, 2 assists), and
Luke Schroepfer (9 points, 3 assists, 2 steals) put in quality minutes as Mines built their lead.
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Murphy Gershman earned his first career start and produced 11 points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes, making 5-of-7 shots.
- Mines held a 50-36 points in the paint advantage.
- The Orediggers led 37-29 on rebounds while committing only six turnovers.
- CSU-Pueblo was led by Mark Williams' 13 points.
NEXT UP
Mines will visit crosstown rival Colorado Christian on Tuesday night.
