GOLDEN, Colo. - Mason Baker poured in 28 points to lead Colorado School of Mines to a key RMAC win over Colorado Mesa, 87-76, on Saturday.

The Orediggers got back on the right side of .500 at 4-3 overall and 2-1 in RMAC play. The Mavericks fell to 5-3 and 1-1 in the RMAC. 

Baker shot 8-for-14 including 3-for-3 from beyond the arc and added six rebounds in a terrific effort for Mines, joined by Brendan Sullivan (18 points, 4 rebounds) and Titus Reed (17 points, 5 rebounds) in leading the charge. The Orediggers were outstanding at the line going 26-for-28 led by Baker's 9-for-9 effort and Sullivan's 7-for-7 game. 

Georgie Dancer led Colorado Mesa with 21 points and Jared Small produced 12 off the bench.

The first half was back-and-forth until an 8-0 Mines run late in the period gave them control of the game. A Ben Boone layup made it 22-18 Mines before Reed's three-point play grew the lead to seven and sent CMU post Clay Verk to the bench in foul trouble with 6:52 to go before halftime; that helped Mines grow the lead from there as Baker hit an and-one play and three late free throws by Sullivan sent Mines into the break up 41-34. 

Reed's putback and Michael Glen's dunk combined with a later Baker three-pointer put Mines up 50-40 in the opening minutes of the second half, and the lead would stay beyond a basket for the remainder of the game after that. CMU drew as close as five after a Verk three with 4:16 to go, but Sullivan responded with back-to-back layups to make it 75-66, and Sullivan and Baker combined to go 10-for-10 at the line in the final minute to seal the game.

NOTABLES
- Michael Glen just missed out on a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds, and produced three blocks on the defensive end.
- Mines shot 51.9 percent for the game and was 7-for-13 for three. CMU was 47.4 percent overall for the game. 
- The Orediggers held a wide 36-24 rebounding advantage.
- Kobi Betts pitched in eight points to lead Mines' bench scorers. 
- Ben Boone handed out a team-high four assists to go with five points and a steal.
- Mines won for the fifth straight time over the Mavericks and ninth time in the last 10 meetings.
- The game was the final home contest of the calendar year and the 2010s for Mines at Lockridge Arena. They close the decade an impressive 118-24 on their home court. 

NEXT UP
The Orediggers head on the road for the first time this season but don't have to go far, visiting Colorado Christian on Friday.