GOLDEN, Colo. - A second-half surge by Colorado School of Mines gave them a 68-50 win over New Mexico Highlands, pushing Mines' win streak to five games.

The Orediggers (20-6, 14-6 RMAC) broke open a one-point game at halftime by outscoring the Cowboys (14-12, 9-11 RMAC) 44-27 in the second half.

On Senior Night, seniors Luke Schroepfer and Adam Laine led the way as Schroepfer drained 19 points, including four three-pointers, and Laine poured in 18 from the post. Ben Sonnefeld added 12 points with six assists, and Duke Douglas keyed a big defensive effort with three blocks to go with seven points and five assists.

A back-and-forth and defensive-minded first half saw Mines ahead just 24-23, as the Orediggers squandered chances at the line going only 2-for-9 and taking only 20 shots in the half.

The locker room adjustment by Pryor Orser was masterful, however, as the Orediggers started the second half on a 13-4 tear, sinking six of their first seven shots to establish a double-digit lead. The clincher came a few minutes later as Laine's three-point play at the 11:17 mark sparked a 21-3 run that included 14 unanswered points to end the stretch. That blew the game open at 61-31, and Mines cruised from there.

Mines second half saw them go 8-for-10 at the line and 16-for-30 from the floor, including 4-for-9 for three.

NOTABLES
- Before the game Mines honored its senior class of Duke Douglas, Adam Laine, Brandon Lueders, Zach Rusk, Luke Schroepfer, and Mark Winans, as well as student assistant coach Scott Hill. The group has won 97 games with two RMAC titles, three NCAA Tournament appearances, and an NCAA Elite Eight trip over the past four seasons.
- Mines' win gives them their fifth consecutive 20-win season, the longest such stretch in program history. 
- The Orediggers' playoff positioning got a boost as UCCS beat MSU Denver, who had been tied with Mines for the third seed in the RMAC Tournament. Mines moves a game ahead of MSU Denver and Adams State (13-7) but still sits a game back of Regis (15-5) for second; the Orediggers finish the regular season at UCCS and MSUD.
- Felix Scheytt also had three blocks as Mines stuffed nine in total.
- The nation's leading three-point shooting team, Mines again impressed from range going 8-for-16.
- NMHU had a 38-35 rebounding edge.

NEXT UP
Mines starts the final weekend of regular-season play at UCCS next Friday night at 7:30 p.m.