GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines got on the winning track with a 75-46 victory over Park Gilbert in the 2021-22 home opener at Lockridge Arena.

The Orediggers (1-2) shot 50 percent for the game paced by Ben Boone's 18 points and an explosive 14 from Brendan Sullivan, who added four steals, five assists, two blocks, and four rebounds to his day. Mines drained 11 three-pointers in the contest. 

Justin Engesser scored his 1,000th career point combined over his career at both Colorado Christian and Mines. 

Mines used a huge run around halftime to take control of the game. A one-basket game as late as the 6:37 mark of the first half, but the Orediggers ended the half on a 14-7 run - capped by Trent Dykema's three-pointer just before the buzzer - to lead 35-25 at the break. 

Things quickly got away from the Buccaneers (2-7) after halftime as Mines started the second on a 16-0 tear started by Kai Barr's dunk. Sullivan hit an incredible run of eight straight points in 1:07, starting with a steal-and-slam at the 17:16 mark, grabbing another steal into a transition bucket on the next trip upcourt, pushing the pace off a Betts rebound, and then finally dunking a steal with 16:09 left to blow the game open at 50-25. Mines never led by less than 20 after that. 

NOTABLES
- Engesser's corner three-pointer early in the second half put him over 1,000 for his career. The graduate transfer from CCU scored 987 points with the Cougars through 2020-21, and earned his second start as an Oredigger on Friday, ending with six points and six rebounds.
- Mines had 14 steals in the game led by Sullivan's four, with Kobi Betts adding three and Kai Barr two; eight different Orediggers had a swipe.
- Betts was a massive +31 on the day with Boone +30. Boone scored 16 of his 18 in the first half and canned four three-pointers in total. Betts ended up with 10 points and five assists. 
- Dykema led all bench scorers with nine points, all coming from beyond the arc on 3-of-5 shooting. 
- Park was held to .295 shooting for the game. Trail Bates led them with 13 points off the bench. 
- It was the first time since March 3, 2020 - an RMAC Tournament quarterfinal win over New Mexico Highlands - that Mines had played in front of fans at Lockridge Arena. The Orediggers were forced to play behind closed doors all of last season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

NEXT UP
Mines hosts University of the Southwest Saturday at 5 p.m. Fans are reminded the masks are required by county order for home games at Lockridge Arena.