Mines vs. Westminster, Friday, 7 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
Mines vs. Dixie State, Saturday, 7 p.m. [Live Video] [Live Stats]
 

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THE WEEKEND AHEAD
Colorado School of Mines opens up 2019 at home, hosting the RMAC's two Utah schools in Westminster and Dixie State on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The Orediggers (8-3 overall) are 5-0 to start RMAC play coming off pre-break wins over Colorado Christian and Regis; Mines is 4-0 at Lockridge Arena this season.

OREDIGGERS ON A ROLL TO START 2019
Mines will hope to keep the momentum they had ending 2018 as they ride an RMAC-best seven-game win streak into 2019. The Orediggers are 5-0 in RMAC play (one of only two unbeatens along with Black Hills State) and now stand 8-3 overall after a 1-3 start. This weekend's action will be Mines' first since Dec. 16, when they defeated Regis 80-73. Ben Sonnefeld had a monster game against the RMAC preseason favorites, scoring 25 points with seven assists as the Orediggers sank 11 of 17 three-point tried, including four from Sonnefeld.

THAT'S THE POINT
Speaking of Ben Sonnefeld, the senior point guard is having a season to remember with career-high averages in every category. Sonnefeld is averaging 15.1 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game shooting a career-high .484 overall from the floor. He's been even better in RMAC action, averaging 16.2 points and 5.2 assists per game in that five-game span.

INSIDE AND OUT
Mines ranks among the national team statistical leaders in a couple of disparate categories: blocks and three-point shooting. The Orediggers are fifth in NCAA Division II in blocks with 5.5 per game, and also rank fifth nationally in three-point shooting percentage at 43.2 percent. Ben Clare (17) and Michael Glen (14) lead the way in blocks, while Joe Miks (.553), Mason Baker (.463), and Ben Sonnefeld (.444) are the team's top three-point shooters.

TO BE THE MAN, YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE MAN
Mines is in a stretch of games where they will be facing defending champions in three consecutive weekends of play. The Orediggers beat defending RMAC Tournament champion Regis in their last game on Dec. 16, and face last year's PacWest regular-season and tournament champions, Dixie State, this Saturday. Next week it's a trip to the defending RMAC regular-season champions, Fort Lewis.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Mines and Dixie State will meet for the first time ever on Saturday. The Trailblazers are first-year members of the RMAC but have been a power in the PacWest Conference over the years, appearing in eight NCAA Tournaments since 2009-10. They won the PacWest regular season and tournament titles a year ago.

LAST YEAR VS. WESTMINSTER
Mines and Westminster split their pair a year ago with both teams winning on the road. The Orediggers won 65-64 in Salt Lake City as Michael Glen had the go-ahead score with 2:53 left and Mines held the Griffins without a field goal for the final 4:27 of the game; Ben Sonnefeld had 15 points and six assists, while Glen had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Westminster got revenge a week later with a 78-73 win in Golden despite 18 bench points from Mason Baker and Luke Schroepfer scoring his 1,000th career point.

SCOUTING THE COMPETITION
A year removed from a 21-5 campaign, a new-look Westminster squad is 4-5 this season and 2-3 in RMAC play. They are coming off a 79-70 loss to New Mexico Highlands before the break. Leading scorer Brandon Warr is averaging 13.3 points per game with 9.3 rebounds per night, with Jake Connor adding 11.3 points per game and Jai Jai Ely (10.9) and Jacob McCord (10.8) also in double figures. Dixie State is an identical 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the RMAC after going 23-7 last season. The Trailblazers, however, are coming off a terrific performance in an exhibition at Wyoming on Saturday in which they lost 65-63. Matt Conway leads the team scoring 15.4 points per game and is also the team's leading rebounder at 5.8; Dub Price is next at 9.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will hit the road to visit Adams State and Fort Lewis on Jan. 11 and 12.