RAPID CITY, S.D. - Colorado School of Mines shot a red-hot 61.3 percent to pull away and dominate South Dakota Mines 89-56.
Brendan Sullivan scored a game-high 23 points to lead four players in double figures for he Orediggers (6-7, 4-5 RMAC). The Hardrockers (6-10, 4-6 RMAC) were held to 35 percent shooting for the game and never led after the opening minute.
The Orediggers' 89-point outburst was even more impressive considering they went to the line just four times. Mines sank 38 of 62 shots and tied their season high with 11 three-pointers.
It was a total team effort on offense as
Ben Boone and
Kobi Betts each scored 13 and
Adam Krasovec added 11;
Riley Schroeder and
Trent Dykema had nine apiece. Kolten Mortsensen led the Hardrockers with 13 points and nine rebounds.
Leading 18-17 early in the first half, the Orediggers broke the game open on a 9-0 run sparked by consecutive Krasovec baskets, and continued to pour it on for the rest of the period as a Boone three, Sullivan layup, and Betts drive extended the lead to 38-24 at the under-four media timeout. Krasovec canned a last-second three-pointer to end the half up 43-29.
It was more of the same in the second half as Mines outscored the hosts 46-27, including an early 14-5 run that put the game out of reach for good at 61-39 with 12:47 left. Mines won going away, outscoring the Hardrockers 11-2 over the final five minutes.
NOTABLES
- The Orediggers' 89 points were a season high, as was their .613 shooting percentage.
- All five Mines starters shot better than 50 percent as they combined to hit an eye-popping 70.8 percent of their shots. The Mines bench wasn't too shabby either - both Dykema (4-for-4) and
Paul O'Leary (3-for-3) were perfect.
- Sullivan was 10-of-15 and 3-of-5 from the outside to build his 23 points.
- Schroeder earned his first career start and had nine points, five rebounds, and a block.
- Mines swept the season series from the Hardrockers, also beating them 64-42 on Dec. 2.
NEXT UP
The Orediggers return home to host Colorado Mesa Jan. 21.
