DURANGO, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines set the RMAC single-game record for free throws going 24-for-24 at the line as they dropped rival Fort Lewis 92-79 in a key road win to stay unbeaten in RMAC play.

The Orediggers (12-3, 9-0 RMAC) ran their win streak to 11 games led by Mason Baker, who poured in a season-high 27 points. Mines was simply perfect at the foul line with 24 makes in as many tries paced by Baker's nine as they snapped the RMAC single-game record for most free throws made without a miss.

Mines' defense was outstanding, holding the Skyhawks (7-8, 2-7 RMAC) to 37.7 percent shooting overall and 26.1 percent from beyond the arc. Austin Means produced 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench for Mines, while Ben Clare added 13 and Ben Sonnefeld 12 points. 

The visitors led for virtually the entire game, going up by double-digits at halftime as Baker scored 13 of his 27 before the break. Fort Lewis, however, began the second half on an 11-2 run keyed by six points from Otas Iyekekpolor to cut the deficit to 36-35, and the Skyhawks would later tie the game at 42 on a Marquel Beasley three-point play with 14:49 remaining.

Mines quickly retook the lead on a pair of Baker fouls hots and a Sonnefeld layup, and a dunk and layup by Means made it 55-51 with 8:43 to play. FLC answered with four straight Beasley free throws to tie it once again, 57-57, but a Clare hook shot inside the key sparked an 8-2 run that gave the Orediggers the lead for good. Mines sealed the game up with a huge 17-5 run late in the half, holding Fort Lewis without a field goal for a five-minute span as Baker and Ben Boone hit key three-pointers to win the game going away.

NOTABLES
- Mines' night at the charity stripe was a program and RMAC record as they bested a pair of 22-for-22 performances, one by MSU Denver in 2005-06 and another by New Mexico Highlands in 1981-82. It was only the 14th time in NCAA Division II history that a team made 24 or more free throws without a miss.
- It was Mines' fifth straight win over the Skyhawks, including two in Durango.
- Mines remained in first place by two games over the trio of New Mexico Highlands, Regis, and UCCS, who all sit at 7-2. 
- Baker was simply outstanding, hitting 8-of-12 shots and going 9-for-9 at the line while adding three steals and two assists to his game-high 27 points. His scoring total is the second-highest by an Oredigger this year, trailing only Joe Miks' 29 at Western Colorado. 
- Baker is shooting a team-best .876 from the line this season and has made 22 straight foul shots dating back to the Westminster game on Jan. 4.
- Despite being limited due to foul trouble for most of the second half, Clare had a big production night ending with 13 points, five boards, and two blocks in 16 minutes.
- With Clare and Michael Glen in foul trouble, Means picked them up off the bench with a career-high 34 minutes, scoring 17 points to go with seven boards, two assists, and a block. 
- Brendan Sullivan flirted with a double-double at nine points and seven rebounds while also blocking two shots.
- Sonnefeld fouled out in the closing minutes, which remarkably was only his second foul-out in 113 career games and first since his freshman season of 2015-16. He ended with 12 points and three assists while going 6-for-6 at the line.

NEXT UP
Mines returns home to face South Dakota Mines on Friday at Lockridge Arena.