DENVER, Colo. – Back at the Regis Field House Saturday evening, the Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team used a late rally to overcome #16/24 Lubbock Christian by a final score of 69-66 to complete a 2-0 weekend at the Conference Challenge.
 
After trailing for much of the game, the Orediggers (2-0) used a hot-shooting second half to keep pace with the Chaps (1-1). Mines retook the lead in the final 4:30 of regulation on a pair of Kai Barr free throws, then mounted a last-second defensive stand, overcoming a big night from LCU's Rowan Mackenzie to secure the win.
 
LCU scored the first points of the game, but Mines scored on back-to-back possessions to take the lead as Sam Beskind drove down the left side of the lane for a layup before Brendan Sullivan drilled a step-back three to make it 5-2.
 
The Chaps then used an 11-0 run to regain the lead at 13-5 around the first media timeout of the night, as Rowan Mackenzie and Najeeb Muhammad connected on three-straight triples. Trent Dykema broke up the run with a free throw at 14:25 to cut the deficit to seven.
 
Adam Thistlewood slammed one home with 12:32 to play to keep it a seven-point game at 15-8 as the pace of the game slowed dramatically, with neither team finding the net again for nearly three minutes, with Beskind converting an old-fashioned three-point play at the 9:55 mark, connecting on a pull-up jumper before converting the ensuing free throw to make it 15-11.
 
A jumper from Mackenzie pushed LCU's lead back to six, but a pair of free throws right before the under-eight media timeout by Adam Krasovec closed it to a four-point game at 17-13. The margin stayed right around four points until Thistlewood hit a turnaround jumper for three with 4:03 to go in the half to close within one at 19-18.
 
Lubbock Christian was able to answer though and quickly pushed their lead back to four before another layup from Beskind drew the Orediggers back within a pair. The Chaps then hit their next two field goals to make it 28-22 before Sullivan drained a corner triple with just over a minute to go to close within three.
 
Following a timeout by LCU with 39 seconds left in the half, Thistlewood came off a screen to bury another three and tie things at 28-28, but Kurt Wegscheider put the Chaps back ahead going into the locker room with a three of his own to make it 31-28 after 20 minutes.
 
The Chaps looked to pull away as the second half got underway, but a pair of triples from Ben Boone kept the Orediggers within striking distance at 38-34. A three from Muhammad pushed the deficit to seven but a tip-in layup from Krasovec made it 41-36.
 
LCU was able to extend their lead to nine at 14:36 following the under-16 media timeout but another and-one from Beskind followed by a turnaround floater from Sullivan once more brought Mines within four at 45-41. Two more free throws from Krasovec made it a two-point contest but once more, LCU turned to Mackenzie for an answer, as he hit a turnaround jumper of his own to make it 47-43.
 
The teams swapped threes around the 10-minute mark, with LCU hitting one first to make it a seven-point affair before Cade Mankle and Boone answered with treys of their own on back-to-back trips down the floor for Mines to close within one at 52-51, but Mackenzie's fifth three of the game pushed it once more to a four-point lead.
 
A layup from Kai Barr at the 6:50 mark again closed the deficit to a two-point affair at 58-56 as the teams continued to trade blows. An LCU basket was answered with one by Thistlewood to trim it back to a one-possession game before a steal and dunk from Beskind tied the game at 60. Barr gave Mines their first lead since 17:53 in the first half moments later with a 2-2 trip to the free throw line with 4:29 remaining.
 
Boone scored the next three for Mines as they pushed the lead up to five at 65-60, but Lubbock Christian fought back behind Muhammad and Mackenzie to close to within a basket with 65 seconds remaining. A Beskind jumper and two free throws from Sullivan pushed the lead to six at 69-63, but Mackenzie hit a running three with 12 seconds left bring the Chaps back within three. The Orediggers turned it over on the ensuing inbounds attempt as LCU had the ball in front of their bench with a chance to tie and force overtime. LCU went to the hot hand in Mackenzie with the game on the line, but this time his shot missed off left, as Thistlewood secured the rebound to seal the 69-66 win.
 
NOTABLES
-Beskind led four Orediggers in double-figures with 16 points on a perfect 7-7 shooting while also adding four boards and six assists
-Boone finished with 12 points and went 3-7 from beyond the arc
-Thistlewood also put up 12 while pulling down a team-high seven boards
-Sullivan scored 10 on 3-5 shooting, including 2-4 from three
-The Orediggers won the battle in paint and off the bench as well, outscoring LCU 30-14 and 19-4 in those respective categories
-Mines also did significant damage from the free throw line, going 15-18 in the game while the Chaps went just 5-6

LOOKING AHEAD
The Orediggers continue non-conference play with a trip out west next week, heading to Seaside, California for the Otter Invitational hosted by Cal State Monterey Bay. They take on Cal State East Bay Friday November 18 at 4:30 p.m. PT before squaring off against the host Otters Saturday November 19 at 3 p.m. PT.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines men's basketball on Twitter at @minesmbb. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.