RMAC Tournament Quarterfinals
[3] Mines vs. [6] UCCS, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
 

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THE GAME
For the second time in five days, Mines (21-7) and UCCS (15-13) will meet but this time the stakes will be higher in the RMAC Tournament quarterfinals. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for seniors and students; Mines students will be admitted free courtesy of Mines Student Life. No passes are accepted for the postseason.

THE BRACKET
There will be four RMAC Tournament quarterfinals on Tuesday, with the winners meeting Friday for the semifinals at the highest remaining seed. The final will be Saturday.
[8] Western at [1] Fort Lewis - 7 p.m.
[5] MSU Denver at [4] Adams State - 7 p.m.
[6] UCCS at [3] Colorado School of Mines - 7:30 p.m.
[7] Black Hills State at [2] Regis - 7 p.m.

IN THE REGULAR SEASON
Each team won at home during the regular season as they split the season series. Mines won 79-77 back on Dec. 17 at Lockridge Arena, making a 7-0 run in the closing 1:16 to beat the Mountain Lions as Michael Glen sank a pair of game-sealing free throws with 10 seconds left. Schroepfer had 21 points in that game. Last Friday, UCCS led virtually the entire way in a frustrating shooting night for Mines as the Orediggers fell 81-70. Ben Sonnefeld led Mines with 16 points and three steals as Adam Laine shot 7-of-10 for 14 points to go with seven rebounds. Dalton Walker and Jonathan Barnes combined for 32 points off the bench as Elijah Ross scored 15 with nine rebounds for UCCS.

IN THE POSTSEASON
The Orediggers are bidding to repeat as RMAC Tournament champions after winning in 2016-17 for their second title overall. UCCS hopes to win their second crown overall and first since 2014-15. Mines and UCCS last met in the RMAC Tournament in 2014, when UCCS handed Mines a 75-70 loss in the semifinals. They most recently met in the postseason in 2015, when Mines lost to UCCS 90-87 in the NCAA First Round in Texas.

IN THE RANKINGS
Mines sat at #7 in the most recent NCAA regional rankings released last Wednesday. The top eight teams in the region at the end of the season make the NCAA Championship bracket, minus any conference automatic qualifiers that were ranked outside of the top eight.

SONNEFELD EARNS ACADEMIC HONOR
Last Thursday, Ben Sonnefeld was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team for his combination of athletic and academic achievement. Sonnefeld is a mechanical engineering major with a 3.71 GPA; this season he is averaging 11.9 points, 4.0 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game, all of which are career highs.