Colorado School of Mines at South Dakota Mines, Friday, 7:30 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
Colorado School of Mines at Black Hills State, Saturday, 6 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
 

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THIS WEEKEND
Colorado School of Mines puts its three-game win streak on the line when it swings through the Mount Rushmore State to visit South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State this weekend. Friday's tilt at SDSMT will tip off at 7:30 p.m. with Saturday's game at BHSU an early 6 p.m. start. Both games will stream live on the RMAC Network.

LAST WEEKEND
Mines came away with two decisive wins, blowing out Adams State 90-64 on Friday before pulling away from Fort Lewis 86-77 on Saturday. Against ASU, Brendan Sullivan's 21 points led the way as Mines hit a 20-4 run to end the first half and blow the game open. Against Fort Lewis, Mines sank a dozen three pointers led by Titus Reed's 17 points and Ben Boone's 14. Kobi Betts scored 15 off the bench.

AROUND THE RMAC
The Orediggers enter the weekend in a three-way tie for first in the RMAC with Dixie State and Black Hills State at 7-2. Two more teams – UCCS and Colorado Mesa – lurk a game behind at 63 with New Mexico Highlands and CSU-Pueblo at 5-4. South Dakota Mines is 4-5.  

BAKER NEARS 1,000 POINTS
Halfway through his junior season, Mason Baker stands at 994 career points as he stands six away from being the next Oredigger to crack the 1,000-point milestone. Baker is averaging a career-high 17.0 points per game this season.

BAKER NAMED TO BEVO FRANCIS AWARD WATCHLIST
On Wednesday, Mason Baker was named to the Bevo Francis Award Top 100 Watch List as one of the best players in small college basketball. He is the first Oredigger on the list since Gokul Natesan in 2017. This season, Baker is averaging career highs in scoring (17.0 ppg), rebounding (4.5 rpg), and assists (3.9). He's also one of the nation's best foul shooters, hitting a Mines-best 89 percent of his shots (81-of-91) this season.

IN THE POLLS
Mines has climbed back into the D2SIDA media regional poll this week at #7. Black Hills State appears for the first time this season at #8. The official NCAA regional rankings will begin in February.

BENCH SUPPORT RAMPS UP
Mines' bench has dramatically ramped up its production over the last three games, averaging 29.7 points per game since the Dixie State contest. The reserves combined for 36 against Adams State and 33 against Fort Lewis led by Paul O'Leary, who averaged 11.5 points and 8.0 rebounds last weekend, and Kobi Betts, who had 12.0 points per game.

SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA MINES [Series: CSM, 14-7]
The Hardrockers are in the playoff hunt at 7-8 overall and 4-5 in RMAC play, currently tied for eighth. Mitchell Sueker is the Hardrockers' leading scorer at 13.5 points per game, followed by Allec Williams and Logan Elers at 13.1 and 10.9 points per game, respectively. Elers leads the team in rebounds with 85 (5.7 per game), while Williams leads the team in assists (54, 3.6 per game) and steals (23). The Orediggers will look to avenge a 58-67 loss in Rapid City last year that was their only RMAC loss of 2018-19. Ben Sonnefeld scored 19 for Mines, but SDSMT was led by Logan Elers' 20 points.

SCOUTING BLACK HILLS STATE [Series: CSM, 12-7]
A year after making the RMAC Tournament final, Black Hills State is 10-5 overall and 7-2 in RMAC play to sit in a first-place tie with Mines and Dixie State. They've won seven straight and lead the RMAC hitting 50 percent of their shots. Freshman Joel Scott leads the team with 17.1 points per game while Tyler Oliver rips down 8.3 rebounds a night to go with 15.1 points. Mines and BHSU met twice last year; the Orediggers won 73-69 in the regular season on the road, but the Yellow Jackets avenged the loss with an 86-77 win in the RMAC Tournament semifinals in Golden. Dez Stoudamire scored 26 in that game while Brendan Sullivan had 19 for Mines.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines returns to Lockridge Arena for a four-game homestand start Jan. 24 against MSU Denver.