GOLDEN, Colo. - A late surge by UCCS carried them to an 82-77 win over Colorado School of Mines in both teams' RMAC opener.

The Orediggers (2-3, 0-1 RMAC) led as late as the four-minute mark of the second half before the Mountain Lions (4-1, 1-0 RMAC) went on a decisive 8-1 run to win the game.

Mason Baker led Mines with 27 points and Titus Reed had a hard-fought 18 points on 7-of-8 shooting. Michael Glen added 10 points and seven rebounds and Ben Boone scored 10 as well. DaRaun Clark scored a career-high 30 off the bench for UCCS.

It was a tale of two halves for Mines, who shot 57.1 percent in the first and just 38.5 percent in the second; the Orediggers led by as much as 12 early in the second half. 

The game see-sawed back and forth throughout the second half with neither team leading by more than two baskets at any point. A Baker three and back-to-back free throws by Baker and Reed gave Mines a 71-68 lead with 5:50 left, and after both teams went to the line, two more from Reed at the 4:57 mark put Mines ahead 73-70.

Blend Avdili answered with a three-pointer to tie it, and after Glen sank one of two, Geoff Kelly sank another from the outside to take a 76-74 lead. That would be the dagger for UCCS as Alijah Comithier made two free throws at the 1:10 mark before Kelly sank another three in the final minute to make it 81-75. Mines was held without a field goal for more than six minutes down the stretch.

NOTABLES
- The competitive game featured 15 ties and 16 lead changes. 
- Mines was very good at the line (18-of-24) while UCCS sank 22-of-31 chances.
- Padiet Wang added 18 for UCCS.
- Baker had five assists and a steal to go with his 27 points. He was 3-for-3 from outside the arc and 8-for-9 at the line.
- UCCS won for the first time in four meetings against Mines; the series now stands at 33-12 in favor of Mines.

NEXT UP
Mines hosts Western Colorado Dec. 6 at 7 p.m.