ALAMOSA, Colo. -
Ben Sonnefeld scored his 1,000th career point as he led a second-half turnaround in Colorado School of Mines' 84-70 win over Adams State on Friday.
The Orediggers (11-3, 8-0 RMAC) won their 10th consecutive game with a dramatic turnaround, shooting 61.5 percent in the second half while holding the Grizzlies (4-9, 4-4 RMAC) to just 26.9 percent; ASU had led 42-35 at halftime.
Mason Baker led all scorers with 21 points (with 16 in the second half), but it was Sonnefeld's night as the senior point guard joined the 1,000-point club with a pull-up jumper from the foul line with 6:41 left in the game. He wound up with 17 points, four assists, and two steals. All five Mines starters scored in double figures as
Brendan Sullivan and
Michael Glen each had 13, and
Ben Clare scored 11.
Adams State built their lead in the first half on the back of 56.7 percent shooting, leading by as much as 12 points, 40-28, just before halftime. Mines' halftime adjustment paid off, however, as they hit a 10-0 run early in the second half to take the lead, 52-51, on a pair of Baker free throws at the 12:59 mark.
The two teams traded the lead before Baker shut the door for good, scoring nine points in an 11-0, 2:20 span to switch a 58-56 Grizzly lead into a 65-58 Mines advantage. The Oredigger defense held ASU without a field goal for nearly four minutes after that, and a late 7-0 run that included five
Brendan Sullivan points sealed it up as Mines won going away.
NOTABLES
- Mines is now two games clear at the top of the RMAC standings after Black Hills State lost to Colorado Christian on Friday.
- The Orediggers produced nine blocks in the game as Clare and
Austin Means each had three and Glen two.
- Shemar Johnson's 19 points led the Grizzlies.
- Baker has put together back-to-back 20+ point games and is leading Mines this season at 14.9 points per game.
- Mines was out-rebounded for only the second time this year at 34-32; the Orediggers are, on average, +6.3 rebounding per game.
NEXT UP
Mines heads to Fort Lewis on Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. tip.