GOLDEN, Colo. – The #14-ranked Colorado School of Mines Men's Basketball team dominated Fort Hays State on Saturday afternoon by a score of 91-72 inside Lockridge Arena.
 
Brendan Sullivan led the charge for the Orediggers, leading all players with 24 points while adding four assists, two steals and one rebound all in just 23 minutes of action. Michael Glen was not far behind as he dropped 18 points and grabbed five rebounds. Glen also notched three assists while he and Sullivan combined for 15-of-20 shooting from the floor. Kobi Betts (12), Mason Baker (10) and Ben Boone made it five Orediggers in double digits. Additionally, Baker came just shy of a triple-double thanks to nine rebounds and seven assists. Baker's assists led all players on the court. Capping it off was Luke Golter who matched Baker with nine rebounds.
 
With the win, Mines (2-1) deals Fort Hays State (2-1) its first loss of the season. The Orediggers shot 56 percent from the field including a 48-percent clip from long range. The Tigers managed to shoot 49 percent themselves, but Mines' defense held the visitors to 37 percent from three. Fort Hays State did force 11 Oredigger turnovers and the home team only shot 66 percent at the free-throw line. However, the difference came on the glass as Mines out-rebounded FHSU by a margin of 37-17. That led to a 17-2 advantage in second-chance points.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mines never trailed and the score was only tied twice over 40 minutes of high-intensity action inside Lockridge Arena. Both tie scores came in the early going as FHSU matched the Orediggers at 2-2 and 4-4. With 16:23 remaining in the first half, Mines took the lead for good and never looked back. It was Glen stealing the show in the opening period thanks to 10 points and four rebounds over the first 20 minutes. The home team pushed its first-half lead to double digits twice thanks to a Ben Boone layup and a Joe Miks three-pointer. At the half, Mines boasted a 43-32 advantage.
 
That margin continued to grow in the second half. Fort Hays State saw the deficit reach 23 points at the 13:23 mark – Mines' largest lead of the game. Individually, Glen passed the torch to Sullivan who dropped 19 in the final 20 minutes as the Orediggers nearly shot 60 percent as a team. Fort Hays State would close the game going 6-for-7 from the field, but it was too little too late. At the final buzzer, Mines had led the game for nearly 38 minutes.  
 
NOTABLES
- Mines' Saturday victory avenges last season's 75-71, overtime loss at Fort Hays State.
- The Orediggers' 2-1 start to the season is one game better than their start in 2018 when they finished 25-6 overall and won the RMAC title.
- Sullivan's 24 points against FHSU mark a career high for the sophomore.
- Redshirt freshman Bede Hooper made his collegiate debut and scored the first points of his career in Saturday's win. He finished with three points thanks to a 1-for-1 mark from long range.
- Friday marked the Orediggers' eighth win in the all-time series against Fort Hays State. Mines is now 8-36 in 44 meetings with the Tigers.
- Head Coach Pryor Orser boasts an all-time record of 341-189 as the skipper at Mines.
 
WHAT'S NEXT
Mines returns to action on Sunday against Nebraska-Kearney at 3 p.m. inside Lockridge Arena. Live stats and video will be available at www.minesathletics.com.
 
Keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all season long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.