GOLDEN, Colo. - #12/15 Colorado School of Mines won its program-record 18th consecutive game, blowing out Chadron State 90-56 in a comprehensive win Friday at Lockridge Arena.

The Orediggers (19-3, 16-0 RMAC) clinched a spot in the RMAC Tournament as they lengthened their lead in the conference standings thanks to Regis' loss to Adams State; Mines now sits four games ahead of the field with six left to play.

Mines got it done on both ends of the floor, shooting a season-high .659 while holding the Eagles (10-12, 8-8 RMAC) to .418 overall including only .367 in the second half. Five players scored in double figures with a distributed load as Mason Baker led all scorers with 13, Ben Sonnefeld, Michael Glen, and Ben Clare each had 12, and Austin Means scored 10 off the bench. Clare added eight rebounds.

The Orediggers were virtually unstoppable on offense, shooting better than 65 percent in both halves while playing shut-down defense at the other end. After a close opening 12 minutes saw Chadron lead 22-21, Mines hit an 11-1 run to take control late in the first half, and a late Clare layup gave the Orediggers their largest lead of the game to that point, 44-30, at halftime.

The lead continued to build for Mines, who dominated the second half outscoring Chadron 46-26. The half was keyed by a 21-6 run mid-half that saw Mines lead by as much as 30, and the Orediggers won going away hitting their largest lead, 37 points, at 90-53 in the final minute.

NOTABLES
- Mines' 18-game win streak is the second-longest active in NCAA Division II behind 21-0 Northwest Missouri State. It betters a 17-game streak set during the 2011-12 season.
- Regis' loss sent them to 12-4, putting the second-place Rangers four games back of Mines. The Orediggers' "magic number" to clinch the regular-season championship and tournament #1 seed is now two as they hold the head-to-head tiebreak over Regis. 
- With seven assists, Ben Sonnefeld moved into a tie for third all-time at Mines with Mike Ziegler (1986-90) at 416 for his career.
- In only 24 minutes, Clare produced 12 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks on 6-of-8 shooting.
- Mines scored 32 off the bench led by Means' 10 and nine from Ben Boone. Boone had the play of the game with a 30-footer to beat the shot clock in the second half. 
- The Orediggers shot an impressive 25-for-26 from the line. They sent CSC to the stripe just 10 times, and the Eagles were 5-for-10.
- Mines has outscored its opponents in the second half in 13 consecutive games.
- Mines registered six blocks led by two each from Means and Clare. 
- The Orediggers held a 29-23 rebounding advantage.
- Michael Sparks' 11 points led Chadron off the bench; Mines held all five Eagle starters to single-figure scoring.

NEXT UP
Mines takes on rival MSU Denver Saturday at 7 p.m.