HONOLULU - Colorado School of Mines employed a big second half to control their game with Saint Martin's and win the opener of the Hoops In Hawaii Classic, 80-60, at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

The Orediggers (7-3) won their fifth in a row as they wrapped a 17-5 run around halftime to take the lead and pull away. The Saints (4-5) saw their three-game win streak snapped. 

Brendan Sullivan scored a game-high 20 points and Ben Boone erupted for a career-high 17 - including five three-pointers - to lead Mines. Mason Baker had 12, all in the second half, to key the Orediggers' final 20 minutes, and Michael Glen pitched in 10 points. The Orediggers - one of the best three-point shooting teams in the nation through the early part of the season - were 11-of-20 from outside the arc. 

The two teams went bucket-for-bucket nearly the entire first half until a big finish by the Orediggers sparked the win. Mines ended the first on an 8-2 run as Kobi Betts, Boone, and Titus Reed all hit shots, and that continued into the second half as Mines began with three three-pointers - two by Sullivan and another from Boone - to turn what had been a one-point deficit into an 11-point lead.

Mines' lead only grew from there as a 16-5 run later in the half made it a 70-50 score after consecutive baskets by Betts, two from Baker, and another by Glen. 

NOTABLES
- Mines is making their second trip to Hawaii and first since 2007-08, when they went 1-1 in visits to Hawai'i Pacific and against Seattle Pacific at BYU-Hawaii. 
- Mines shot 51.7 percent overall and 55.0 percent from beyond the arc. Saint Martins was held to 37.5 percent overall and 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) from range.
- Boone's five three-point baskets tied Sullivan for the season high by an Oredigger (Nov. 16 vs. Fort Hays State). 
- Sullivan notched his third 20+ point game of the season.
- Mines had 18 points off the bench led by Kobi Betts' seven and Paul O'Leary's five.
- Mines held a 33-28 rebounding edge led by Boone and Glen, who had six each.
- Thurman Knowles and Trent Dykema scored their first collegiate points at the line in the final minute of the game.
- CJ Jennings led the Saints with 16 points.
- The Orediggers and Saint Martin's were meeting for the first time since 2010-11. The Saints lead the series 4-2.

NEXT UP
Mines will take on Simon Fraser Friday at 8 p.m. HT/11 p.m. MT.