GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines fell behind at halftime and never caught up to South Dakota Mines as the Hardrockers won 78-73 in a tight game at Lockridge Arena.

The Orediggers (19-9, 15-6 RMAC) saw their five-game win streak snapped as they came within a basket of tying or going ahead in the final minute before the Hardrockers (16-11, 13-8 RMAC) held on to win.

It was a wild night in the RMAC as the top three teams all lost, with co-leaders Dixie State and Black Hills State falling at Colorado Christian and UCCS, respectively. That means with one game left in the regular season, Mines has a slim opening to tie those two should the Orediggers beat UCCS and both DSU and BHSU lose next Friday.

Mines was led by Brendan Sullivan's 15 points while Titus reed scored 14 to go with six boards and five assists; Ben Boone also had 14 points. Mitchell Sueker led all scorers with 26 points to go with 10 rebounds, and Logan Elers scored 20 for SDSMT.

The Orediggers enjoyed the lead for most of the first half until SDSMT ended the period on a 14-3 run, with Allec Williams' buzzerbeater layup giving the visitors a 34-33 lead at the break. It was more of the same out of the lockers as the Hardrockers began the second with a 9-2 spurt to put them ahead 43-35.

The Orediggers tried to chip away at what eventually grew to a double-digit deficit, and a 12-4 run late in the second half capped by a Michael Glen jumper cut it to 62-58; a Reed layup and two Boone free throws with 1:15 to go made it a one-basket game for the first time since halftime at 69-66.

SDSMT answered with a quick Damani Hayes layup before Reed splashed a three from the corner to cut it to 71-69 with 50 seconds left; Jack Fiddler, however, hit a dagger three of his own with 24 seconds remaining. Kobi Betts made two free throws at the other end, but Sueker sealed the game as Elers broke the press and found him all alone on a long outlet pass for a dunk with 14 seconds to go.

NOTABLES
- A motivated South Dakota Mines clinched an RMAC Tournament berth with the win.
- SDSMT dominated the inside led by Elers as they outscored the Orediggers 46-24 in the paint. They led 38-22 on rebounding.
- The Orediggers feasted on turnover points, scoring 17 off 13 Hardrocker giveaways.
- Both Sullivan and Reed had two steals and two blocks apiece.
- Kobi Betts led all bench scorers with 14 points.
- The Orediggers shot .463 overall and an improved .560 overall in the second half; SDSMT was .544 for the game including 6-of-12 for three. 

NEXT UP
Mines finishes the regular season at UCCS next Friday. The Orediggers are assured of at least a home RMAC Tournament quarterfinal on March 3.