GUNNISON, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines couldn't quite catch up to Western Colorado as the Mountaineers held on to win 83-78 in Gunnison.

Free throw shooting was featured in the game as the two teams combined for 59 tries at the line, and the Mountaineers (3-8, 2-3 RMAC) had the advantage going 28-of-35 including 6-of-8 in the final 30 seconds to seal the game.

The Orediggers (4-4, 2-2 RMAC), who had trailed the entire second half, had cut it to a two-point game with 18 seconds remaining, but WCU iced the game at the line. Brendan Sullivan starred with a game-high 25 points, and Adam Krasovec notched his first career double-double at 16 points and 10 rebounds. Ben Boone had 18 points despite foul trouble late in the second half.

Matthew Ragsdale led Western with 23 points. 

The Orediggers led by as much as five in a back-and-forth first half, but an 11-0 Western run gave them the lead as they ended the half outscoring Mines 13-3 to go up 39-34 at the break.

WCU came out of halftime in a roll and led by as much as 11 early in the second, but Mines chipped away and eventually drew within a basket on Titus Reed's free throws with 5:45 left, trailing 66-64. It was a battle at the line from there, with Krasovec's three-point play making it 68-67 with just over four minutes to go before consecutive baskets by Grant Wilkinson and Cole Sienknecht put the home side up 72-67. Kobi Betts' jumper and two Sullivan foul shots made it a one-basket game against at 74-71, but Sienknecht's dagger three with 1:08 remaining made it a six-point Mountaineer lead. 

Krasovec answered back with a three and Betts quickly scored off a missed free throws to give Mines some hope at 78-76 with 18 seconds left, but Ragsdale made four free throws around another Betts score, and Avery Rembao iced it at the line.in the final seconds.

NOTABLES
- Krasovec's double-double is the second of the season by an Oredigger joining Sullivan. His 10 rebounds were a career high and he matched his career scoring high at 16 for the second straight game.
- Sullivan was 10-of-11 at the line on his way to 25 points.
- The Orediggers shot better than Western overall (.466 to .439) and had one more three-pointers (6 vs. 5) in the game, but the Mountaineers took 11 more trips to the line and were +10 in free throw points. 

NEXT UP
Mines heads to Fort Lewis Saturday for a 7 p.m. tip.