GOLDEN, Colo. - Brendan Sullivan's career-high 31 points helped #5 Colorado School of Mines survive its toughest test of the season, beating Fort Lewis 79-73 to end 2020 unbeaten.

The Orediggers (6-0, 5-0 RMAC) found a 7-0 run late in the game to overcome a one-point lead by the Skyhawks (2-2, 1-2 RMAC), who were receiving votes in this week's NABC top 25 poll.

A night after dropping 24 against Western Colorado, Sullivan shot 10-of-14 overall and was 10-of-13 from the line to build his career high in scoring. He was one of three Orediggers in double figures along with 12-point games by Ben Boone and Michael Glen, both of whom hit key shots down the stretch.

Riley Farris paced FLC with 22 points, 12 of them at the line, with six rebounds while Brenden Boatwright scored 13.

The game featured 11 ties and 21 lead changes in a see-saw battle that ended with Mines on top as the home team shot a torrid .633 in the second half to FLC's .444. Mines' largest lead of eight early in the second half evaporated on a string of three and-one opportunities for the Skyhawks, and the two sides traded leads over a 10-minute span that ultimately saw Fort Lewis lead 69-68 on Will Wittman's jumper with 3:16 left.

Mines responded with a crucial Boone basket to retake the lead, and Sullivan blocked Farris at the other end and then hit one fo two free throws to extend the lead to 71-69. After another Farris miss, Kobi Betts came up with a clutch 8-foot floater to make it a two-score game with 1:51 left, and Sullivan made two free throws to lead 75-69 seconds later. Boone iced the game with his jumper coming with 36 seconds left and two subsequent foul shots, and the Skyhawks couldn't capitalize on a late Mines turnover to mount a comeback.

NOTABLES
- Sullivan stuffed the stat sheet, adding four rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and a steal to his 31-point night.
- Sullivan is now averaging a team-leading 17.8 points per game. After struggling early in the season from the foul line, he hit his first seven in a row Saturday night on the way to a 10-of-13 night. 
- Both teams did the bulk of their scoring either in the paint or at the line, combining for just five three-pointers; Mines scored 46 points in the paint to Fort Lewis' 42, and the Skyhawks sank 23 foul shots to Mines' 18. 
- The teams were knotted 29-29 on rebounds. Glen and Austin Means each had seven for Mines.
- The Orediggers start 6-0 for the sixth time under Pryor Orser and first time since 2017-18. 
- Mines has won seven in a row over Fort Lewis, matching their longest winning streak in the series dating back to 1968.

NEXT UP
Mines will break for the holidays before returning to play Jan. 3 at Chadron State.