PUEBLO, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines clinched an RMAC Tournament spot with a decisive 84-65 win at CSU-Pueblo on Saturday.

The Orediggers (18-8, 14-5 RMAC) overcame foul trouble in their frontcourt with a white-hot first half that saw them shoot 63 percent on the way to an insurmountable lead. The Thunderwolves (11-14, 9-10) were held to 38 percent shooting for the game.

Playing in his home town, Kobi Betts scored a game-high 23 points including five three-pointers to go with five rebounds, two blocks, and two steals. Austin means came off the bench for a season-high 14 points and seven rebounds, while Ben Boone pitched in 13.

It was a tale of two halves for Mines, shot drained 17-of-27 shots in the first, including 9-of-13 three-point tries, but were held to 9-of-29 in the second half. The Oredigger defense, however, limited CSUP to eight field goals in the first and nine in the second as the Pack turned it over 17 times in the game.

Mines didn't trail after the opening minutes when Betts scored eight of Mines' first 13 points. A 10-2 run later in the half gave Mines full control up 37-23, and the Orediggers ended the first half on a commanding 12-2 run holding CSUP without a field goal over the final 4:36 to lead 49-28 at intermission.

The Orediggers went cold from the field in the second half, sinking just one of 11 three-point attempts, but they made up for it at the line with a perfect 16-for-16 period. CSUP made a late surge to cut the deficit to 11 with 8:08 to go, but Mines responded with a Ben Boone three-pointer to spark a 9-0 run and shut the door on the Thunderwolves.

NOTABLES
- The Orediggers did not make up any ground in the RMAC race as Black Hills State won a tight game over Chadron State and Dixie State won late against Fort Lewis; those two teams are two games up on Mines for first place (16-3) with three left to play.
- Mines extended its win streak to four games and swept the season series from CSU-Pueblo.
- Brendan Sullivan and Michael Glen each scored 12; Glen was limited to 15 minutes with foul trouble. Glen now needs 15 points to reach 1,000 for his career.
- Betts hit his first five three-point tries as he played his first collegiate game back home in Pueblo. His 23 points marked the second-highest output of his career.
- Means was a game-best +20.
- Both Betts and Sullivan had two blocks apiece.
- Tyson Gilbert led the Thunderwolves with 20 points, and Brandon McGhee had 16.
- Mines won its fifth straight over CSU-Pueblo. 

NEXT UP
Mines returns home to host league leader Black Hills State on Friday at 7 p.m.