DENVER, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines led wire-to-wire as they raced to out a big early lead and never looked back in a 73-61 win at MSU Denver.
The Orediggers (16-8, 12-5 RMAC) remain in third place in the RMAC two games behind Black Hills State with five games left in the regular season. The Roadrunners saw their playoff hopes take a hit as they fell to 10-12 overall and 6-10 in the RMAC.
Kobi Betts led all scorers with 19 points while
Ben Boone had a perfect 6-for-6 night on the way to 18.
Titus Reed had 15 points - all in the second half - and
Michael Glen pitched in 13. Mitch Lombard and Garrett Carter paced MSUD with 13 points apiece.
Mines took advantage of woeful Roadrunner shooting in the first half to build an early advantage. MSU Denver shot just 7-of-22 in the half and 2-for-10 in the opening 10 minutes as Mines led 20-6 after 12 minutes gone; the Orediggers would shoot a solid 52 percent in the first period to go up 36-21 at the break.
The Orediggers never quite put the game out of reach in the second half as the Roadrunners refused to go away; after leading by as much as 20 at 51-31, Mines saw its advantage shrink to 10 after a 12-2 run by the Roadrunners in the middle of the half. Glen and Betts responded with consecutive buckets before Boone hit a three, and the Roadrunners never got closer than a dozen until the final seconds of the game.
NOTABLES
- Mines controlled the boards 34-29.
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Brendan Sullivan was the only Mines starter not scoring in double digits, hitting seven points, but he did everything else with a game-high seven rebounds to go with two assists, two steals, and a block; he was a team-best +19.
- Reed added six rebounds to his 15 points, and he was 9-of-10 at the line.
- Mines was 19-of-25 (.760) at the line to MSUD's 13-of-20 (.650).
- Mines swept the season series from MSU Denver and extended their win streak over the Roadrunners to five games and nine of the last 10.
- The Mines bench scored just two points, a bucket by
Paul O'Leary.
NEXT UP
Mines heads to New Mexico Highlands Friday at 7 p.m.