GOLDEN, Colo. - It was back and forth the entire 40 minutes, but Colorado School of Mines came away the victor in a 79-74 thriller over Western Colorado on Saturday.

In a game that had 15 lead changes and 16 ties, Mines prevailed in the closing seconds thanks to some key free throws and rebounds. The Orediggers (14-8, 12-6 RMAC) were led by Kai Barr's career-high 19 points and a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double from Justin Engesser.

Matthew Ragsdale had a huge night for the Mountaineers (5-19, 4-14 RMAC) with 33 points including six three-pointers. 

Tied 43-43 after a frenetically-paced first half, neither team led by four at any point in the second, and all but 33 seconds of the second half were spent with the game either tied or one team up by three points or less.

Both teams led inside four minutes as a Ragsdale three put Western ahead 70-69 with 3:50 remaining. Kobi Betts answered with a tough take to the rack for a 71-70 lead, but Will Willis' foul shots at the 2:45 mark put WCU ahead again, 72-71.

Barr and Ragsdale traded baskets over the next 40 seconds, and two foul shots by Barr put Mines ahead 75-74 with 1:53 to go. That would turn out to be the final lead change as Ragsdale and Avery Rembao missed threes, but Mines also couldn't convert their chances; Ben Boone went to the line to ice it with 25 seconds left and missed both shots but was helped out by Brendan Sullivan's offensive rebound, putting him at the line to make two shots and a 77-74 lead. Ragsdale's bid to tie it missed and Engesser went to the line, sealing the game with two shots at 79-74. 

NOTABLES
- Mines' bench provided 44 points led by Barr and Engesser, with Kobi Betts pitching in five and Trent Dykema four. 
- Engesser's double-double was his first as an Oredigger and eighth of his career. His 15 rebounds were a career high. 
- Barr was 7-of-11 overall and 5-of-5 at the stripe to build his career-high 19 points.
- After a red-hot first half had them shooting 60 percent, Mines cooled off to a .313 clip in the second but compensated by going 13-of-16 at the line.  
- It was the 186th meeting between the two teams in a continuous series dating back to 1925.
- Boone ended up with 12 points and seven rebounds, and Sullivan had 10 points, four boards, three assists, and a pair of blocks. 

NEXT UP
Mines heads to Westminster on Friday.