Colorado School of Mines vs. MSU Denver, Friday, 8 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
Colorado School of Mines vs. Chadron State, Saturday, 7 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
 

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THIS WEEKEND
Colorado School of Mines hopes to get back on track hosting crosstown rival MSU Denver and Chadron State this weekend. The Orediggers enter the weekend at 11-7 overall and 7-4 in RMAC action. Saturday night's game will be a feast for Mines students as free pizza courtesy of Woody's Wood Fired Pizza and cupcakes from Gold Mine Cupcakes will be on hand.

GAME DAY INFO
New in 2019-20, fans can purchase digital tickets online in advance via Mines' new ticketing portal, or buy them at the gate on game day. Ticket pricing remains the same as 2018-19 at $10 for adults and $5 for seniors, military, and children. Mines students, faculty, and staff are free with their Blaster Card. No pets (except service animals) are permitted inside Lockridge Arena.
 
ON THE RMAC NETWORK
Every Mines home game and all RMAC contests can be seen live and for free on the RMAC Network at minesathletics.com/tv. The RMAC Network can also be found on Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Android TV devices by going to the app store and searching "RMAC".

LAST WEEKEND
Mines suffered a pair of losses in South Dakota last weekend, falling at South Dakota Mines 84-69, then taking first-place Black Hills State down to the wire in a 65-61 setback. Ben Boone led the way averaging 15.0 points per game including tying his career high with 17 against BHSU; Kobi Betts averaged 13.5 points per game.

AROUND THE RMAC
The Orediggers are still in the RMAC title mix, sitting two games back of Dixie State and Black Hills State (9-2) and a game behind Colorado Mesa (8-3). The Orediggers already own wins over DSU and CMU, and have yet to meet New Mexico Highlands, who is also 7-4.

BAKER NAMED TO BEVO FRANCIS AWARD WATCHLIST
Last week, 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 (16.1 ppg), rebounding (4.4 rpg), and assists (3.6). 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. Baker stands just four points away from 1,000 for his career.

SCOUTING MSU DENVER [Series: CSM, 41-36]
The Roadrunners are 9-8 overall and 5-6 in the RMAC, but are 3-1 over their last four including wins over Dixie State, Westminster, and CSU-Pueblo before losing to New Mexico Highlands. Druce Asah leads the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game – their only double-digit scorer – but five others score more than seven per game led by Garrett Carter (9.6 ppg) and Mitch Lombard (9.1 ppg). The Roadrunners hold opponents to .415 shooting, the second-best rate in the RMAC. Mines and MSU Denver renew their rivalry for the 78th time on Friday with Mines owning the last three wins and seven of the last eight. Mines won both meetings a year ago with a 77-71 win in Denver and a 66-60 victory at home; in the latter, Mason Baker scored 15 points as Mines hit 19-of-22 free throws in the win. Asah scored a game-high 19 for the Roadrunners.

SCOUTING CHADRON STATE [Series: CSC, 44-39]
The Eagles are out to a tough 3-14 first half with a 2-9 RMAC record, carrying a four-game losing streak into the weekend. Brian Rodriguez-Flores leads the team scoring 17.3 points per game with a team-best 5.7 rebounds per game, while Colby Jackson adds 11.4 points and Jacob Jefferson 11.1 points per game. Although Chadron State leads the overall series 44-39, Mines has won 22 in a row – their longest active win streak over an RMAC opponent – having not lost to Chadron State since the 2007-08 season. Last year Mines won 82-75 at Chadron and 90-56 at home; in the latter game Mines shot a season-best .659 with five players in double digits.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines stays at home to host CSU-Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. The NMHU game will be the Orediggers' annual "Rock The Lock" night.