DENVER - #13/24 Colorado School of Mines was simply unstoppable in their season opener, racing away from MSU Denver in the first half on the way to an 82-48 win at the Auraria Events Center.

The Orediggers (1-0) compiled their most lopsided win over the Roadrunners (0-1) in 42 years by shooting an impressive 63.6 percent for the game including 9-of-18 downtown. 

Kobi Betts led a balanced scoring effort with 18 points. Michael Glen had 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds while Brendan Sullivan and Titus Reed each scored 11. Mines' defense held the Roadrunners to just 29.5 percent shooting as only one player, Reggie Gibson, scored in double digits with 11 points.

The first 10 minutes of the game were typical Mines-Metro - hard play and scoring at a premium. But Brendan Sullivan's three-pointer eight minutes into the game broke up a tie and sparked a 14-4 run that saw Mines blow open the lead to double digits. The Orediggers got to the foul line 18 times in the first half, making 14, and that - plus Betts' buzzer-beater three-pointer - proved to be the difference as they led 43-24 at the break.

The second half would see the game quickly get out of the reach of the hosts. Austin Means began with a layup and baskets by Betts and Glen extended the lead to 52-26 less than six minutes into the period. Mines then hit an 18-0 run mid-half that saw Titus Reed, Thurman Knowles, and Trent Dykema score 16 of those points off the bench, all while MSU Denver went 0-for-6 in the same span. That all but ended it at 72-30 with seven minutes to go, and Mines was able to get its entire bench some work over the closing minutes.

NOTABLES
- Scheduled just five days ago, the game was considered a non-conference match-up.
- The 34-point win was Mines' largest over MSU Denver since a 121-62 win in 1978. 
- Mines out-rebounded Metro 37-24. 
- Mines enjoyed its best shooting night since the 2015-16 season when it also sank 63.6 percent of its shots in a win over Chadron State.
- In just 23 minutes, Betts filled the stats sheet with 18 points on 4-of-6 shooting (3-of-5 from three), two assists, and two steals.
- Eleven different Orediggers scored points, including first career buckets for Ben Grusing, Anthony Giliberto, and Riley Schroeder. 
- Thurman Knowles' six bench points marked a career-high. Reed led all bench scorers with 11.
- Grusing, Giliberto, Schroeder, Grant Pressly, and Kai Barr made their collegiate debuts off the bench.

NEXT UP
Mines will open RMAC play at Regis Tuesday night at 8 p.m. No spectators will be admitted to the game, which will be seen live on the RMAC Network.