Colorado School of Mines at Westminster, Friday, 7:30 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
Colorado School of Mines at #13 Dixie State, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
 

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THIS WEEKEND
Mines opens 2020 with a return to RMAC play, swinging through Utah for a pair of tough games at Westminster and #13 Dixie State. The Orediggers stand at 8-4 overall and 4-1 in RMAC play through the first half of the season, and have won four straight in league competition.

HOOPIN' IN HAWAII
Mines last played on Dec. 19-21 in the Hoops In Hawaii Classic in Honolulu, going 2-1 against tough competition. The Orediggers won their opener 80-60 over Saint Martin's, then grinded out a 58-53 win against Simon Fraser before falling in a 59-57 heartbreaker to #21 Southeastern Oklahoma State. All-Tournament team selection Brendan Sullivan led Mines with 13.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game; Michael Glen also had a terrific tournament averaging 12.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

A DECADE OF DOMINANCE
As a new decade opens, the Orediggers certainly won't forget the 2010s. Mines was the RMAC's dominant program in the 2010s, going a combined 233-70 (.769) since Jan. 1, 2010 and compiling five RMAC regular-season titles, two RMAC Tournament championships, and nine NCAA Tournament appearances, including a 2017 Elite Eight berth. Under head coach Pryor Orser, Mines is riding a streak of six straight 20+ win seasons.

GLEN EARNS RMAC HONORS
Michael Glen was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week on Dec. 23 after a standout tournament in Hawaii. Glen averaged 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game in the three-game set, including a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double against Simon Fraser. It was the first RMAC weekly honor of Glen's career.

D UP
Mines enters 2020 allowing 68.4 points per game, which ranks third in the RMAC. But the Orediggers have been on a defensive hot streak as of late, allowing just 60 points per game over their last four - including totals of 53 and 59 to high-scoring Simon Fraser and Southeastern Oklahoma State. In the Hoops In Hawaii Tournament, Mines held opponents to 27.5 points per game below their season averages. Mines ranks in the RMAC top five in nearly every defensive category, including scoring (third), rebounding margin (fifth), turnover margin (fourth), and three-point defense (fifth).

FROM THE OUTSIDE
Mines knew it had one of the nation's best three-point shooters back in 2019-20 in Mason Baker, who has not disappointed draining 23-of-50 attempts (.460) this season. But it's sophomore Brendan Sullivan who has surprised from the outside this season, shooting a ridiculous 23-of-35 (.657) in 11 games. He's just under the NCAA Division II threshold of 2.5 made shots per game to be ranked, but his clip would lead the nation by a significant margin. Sullivan's performance is even more impressive considering he shot .338 (23-77) from the outside as a freshman last year.

SCOUTING WESTMINSTER [Series: Westminster, 27-24]
Westminster enters the new year at 7-4 overall but looking to rebound from a 2-3 RMAC start that saw them beat the two South Dakota schools but lose to Dixie State, CSU-Pueblo, and New Mexico Highlands. They have not played since Dec. 14 in that 78-77 road loss to NMHU. The Griffins are led by Brandon Warr, who averages 17.6 points and an RMAC-best 9.8 rebounds per game; Jake Connor and Jai Jai Ely also score better than 12 points per game while Alec Monson pitches in 11.2. Friday's game will be the 52nd in a series that dates back to 1955; the Orediggers have won seven of the last nine including an 86-58 blowout last year that saw Mason Baker score 16 and Michael Glen 15 as Mines shot 58 percent in the home victory.

SCOUTING #13 DIXIE STATE [Series: Mines, 1-0]
Mines visits Dixie State for the first – and perhaps last - time as the two play their only game this season, barring a postseason meeting. The Trailblazers will head to NCAA Division I and the WAC next season. This year they have been outstanding, sitting at 10-1 and earning the #13 ranking in the latest NABC poll; their perfect start was halted on Dec. 20 in a 91-75 loss at Western Oregon. DSU is 5-0 in RMAC play including a 109-108 overtime win over defending RMAC Tournament champion New Mexico Highlands. Picked second in the RMAC preseason poll behind Mines, DSU is led by Hunter Schofield's 18.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game, while Jack Pagenkopf (11.9 ppg), Dason Youngblood (10.9 ppg), and Frank Staine (10.9 ppg) add to the scoring. The Trailblazers outrebound opponents by more than seven per game, and shoot .484 to opponents' .405. In last year's meeting in Golden, Mines won 93-75 led by Mason Baker's 23 and Austin Means' 14-point, 10-rebound double-double.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines returns home to face Adams State and Fort Lewis on Jan. 10 and 11.