GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines dominated at both ends of the floor to win their home opener, 87-52, over Kansas Wesleyan on Friday.

The Orediggers (2-3) blocked 13 shots and held a +22 rebounding advantage led by Austin Means' first career double-double and Brendan Sullivan's 14 points. Every player who saw the court for Mines scored as the youngsters shined, with freshmen combining for 33 points.

Means ended with 12 points, 12 boards, three blocks, and two assists while Ben Clare scored 11 with eight boards and Mason Baker and Joe Miks also added 12 points apiece. Mines shot 53.2 percent for the game including a red-hot 61.3 percent in the second half.

The game was never close as the Orediggers started on an 11-4 run, then blew the game open with an 11-0 stretch midway through the first half, with Means scoring six of his 12 in that span. Mines kept the pressure on to lead 40-21 at the half.

If there was any doubt, Sullivan put it to rest to start the second half. The true freshman came out on fire, scoring nine of Mines' first 11 points as the Orediggers sank their first seven shots; Sullivan punctuated the run with an alley-oop from Baker to make it 49-25, and Mines never looked back from there, blowing the lead to as much as 38 points halfway through the period.

NOTABLES
- Mines' 13 blocks were its most since notching the same total in a win over Adams State on Jan. 17, 2003. Six different players had rejections with four - Ben Clare (4), Austin Means (3), Michael Glen (2), and Brendan Sullivan (2) - having multiple stops.
- Multiple Orediggers notched career scoring highs including Means (12), Miks (12), and Ben Boone (4); Landon Walker scored for the first time in a home game with a bucket and Tylor Trinh made his Mines debut and sank a free throw.
- Every player on the court for Mines both scored and had at least one rebound. 
- Baker stuffed his stat line with 12 points, five boards, and a team-high five assists.
- The Orediggers shot 10-of-26 for three led by Miks, who was 4-of-7. 
- KWU was held to 28.6 percent shooting for the game, including 7-for-28 (25 percent) in the first half. 
- Mines' post dominance extended to the offensive end as they led KWU 40-22 in points in the paint. 
- Mines improved to 2-0 all-time against Kansas Wesleyan, a member of the NAIA.

NEXT UP
Mines stays home to play Haskell on Saturday at 5 p.m.