#16/24 Mines (14-3, 8-1) vs. Regis (8-7, 5-4)– Friday, 7:30 p.m.– Golden, Colo. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]
#16/24 Mines (14-3, 8-1) vs. UCCS (8-8, 4-6) – Saturday, 7 p.m.– Golden, Colo. [Live Stats] [RMAC Network]

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THE FRIENDLY CONFINES
Winners of their last 10, the #16/24 Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team returns to Lockridge Arena this weekend for the first leg of a four-game home stand as they get set to tangle with Regis and UCCS for the second time each this season on Friday and Saturday nights in Golden.
 
LIVE COVERAGE
Coverage of this weekend's games will be available on the RMAC Network and have live stats available at minesathletics.com.
 
AT THE HELM
The 2023-24 season will be the 23rd for the Orediggers under the guidance of head coach Pryor Orser. Already the winningest coach in program history, he eclipsed the 400-win mark in November of last season and has a career record of 435-221 overall and a mark of 308-151 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play, with both marks being second-most wins in conference history behind legendary Fort Lewis and Western Colorado head coach Bob Hofman, who recorded 309 conference wins and 443 overall wins during his time in the league while leading the Skyhawks and Mountaineers. Under Orser, Mines has won five RMAC regular-season championships and two RMAC Tournament titles and qualified for 12 NCAA Tournaments including two Elite Eight trips. 
 
THE CAPTAINS
Second-year graduate transfer Sam Beskind and redshirt sophomore guard Cade Mankle will serve as captains for the Orediggers in 2023-24. Beskind burst onto the RMAC scene last year, averaging 9.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while also shooting .481/.338/.835 on the season and ranking second in the conference in total assists with 120 and leading the league in assist to turnover ratio at 2.2. Mankle split time between the starting five and the bench rotation in his first season of action last year, averaging 4.4 points and 1.6 assists per game while shooting .397/.310/.542 for the year.
 
IN THE POLLS
After re-entering the Top 25 in the NABC Coaches Poll last week, Mines was on the move again this week as they rose to #16 in the country this week. For the second time in as many weeks, a new name stands atop the rankings as Minnesota State (16-0) earned all 16 first-place votes, rising from second last week. West Texas A&M (14-1) rose two spots to take over the number two position while Saint Martin's (14-1) rose from fifth to third and Dallas Baptist (13-1) climbed from sixth to fifth with last week's number one MSU Moorhead (15-1) rounding out the top five following their first loss of the season. Fort Lewis (13-2) dropped from ninth to 12th this week following an upset loss to UCCS Friday night and escaping disaster with a one-point win in the final moments Saturday night against Regis. They were replaced in the Top 10 by current RMAC leader Colorado Mesa (13-2).
 
The latest D2CSC Media Poll also featured an appearance by the Orediggers this week at #24 and saw a bit of a shake up with Minnesota State also standing at #1 followed by St. Martin's West Texas A&M, MSU Moorhead and North Georgia. Colorado Mesa slotted in at #14 this week with Fort Lewis at #23.
 
Looking at the RMAC, Mines earned a trio of first place votes and was picked to finish third in the league season behind Colorado Mesa, who earned eight first place votes, and Fort Lewis who earned four. Black Hills State and Chadron State rounded out the rest of the top five.
 
WEEK 9 RECAP
Mines kept their foot on the gas and maintained their winning ways as they were back on the road last weekend. Friday night featured a knockdown, drag out overtime thriller against CSU Pueblo that resulted in an 85-79 win and followed that up with a tightly contested 69-60 win over a scrappy New Mexico Highlands club. Against the ThunderWolves, Sam Beskind and Alex Romack each recorded a double-double, with the freshman going for 17 points and 10 rebounds while the Stanford transfer added 15 and 12. Majok Deng got going late in the action to finish with 15 points as well and seven boards, while Cade Mankle and Adam Krasovec each went for 12 and had 10 combined rebounds. Riley Schroeder led the way defensively with two blocks and two steals. Saturday night against the Cowboys, Adam Krasovec led the way, coming off the bench to turn in the third double-double of the weekend with 15 points and 11 boards while Beskind just missed out on his second in as many days with 14 points and nine rebounds. Mankle added 12 points on 4-9 shooting while Schroeder again scored eight with two blocks.
 
RARE AIR
Recording a double-double at any level of the game takes a certain degree of skill and focus, requiring a player to truly be locked in from the opening tip to the final horn. To have two people accomplish the feat in the same night, well that doesn't happen too often. Don't tell that to Sam Beskind and Alex Romack though; the duo did just that in Friday night's overtime win at CSU Pueblo. Following some corrections to the official stats, Romack led the way with 17 points and 12 rebounds while Beskind poured in 15 with 12 rebounds. They became the first Oredigger teammates to record a double-double in the same night since Michael Glen and Brendan Sullivan accomplished the feat wall the way back in 2019. Even more impressive, they became just the fifth duo to achieve two double-doubles in a game since the 2011-12 season. Those two will look to continue their strong play this weekend at home.
 
THEY CALL THAT A WINNING STREAK
After being dealt a tough 86-79 loss by preseason RMAC favorite and then #18 Colorado Mesa to start the month of December, the Orediggers have done nothing but find ways to win. Currently on an eight-game winning streak, Mines has averaged 80.7 PPG and won by an average of 13.8 points during that span. They've proven they can win close games, picking up a 66-65 win at South Dakota Mines on December 8 and more recently an 85-79 win over CSU Pueblo last Friday and proven they can win by 20 or more as they did against Westminster on December 2 and Northern New Mexico on December 31. They've not surpassed the longest winning streak of last season which was nine games and have established the first double-digit winning streak since the 2020-21 season. While the remaining schedule certainly isn't easy by any stretch, Mines will have a chance this weekend and possibly beyond to keep the train rolling.
 
LEAGUE LEADERS
Several Orediggers find themselves at or near the top of the RMAC in several statistical categories. Freshman Alex Romack leads the conference in total rebounds with 133 while his average of 7.8 per game ranks fourth. Majok Deng's 15.2 PPG finds him among the top 15 in the league, while his 40 made three-pointers is third with his .440 three-point percentage tops in the RMAC. Sam Beskind leads the conference with 81 assists and is averaging close to five dimes per game while his assist-turnover ratio stands at 2.1 to lead the RMAC, making him the only player in the league with an ATO above 2.0. Another strong weekend defensively by Riley Schroeder now has him atop the blocked shots list with 21, while Romack is inside the top 15 with 13. In addition to leading the conference in blocks (65) and rebounds (646) as a team, the Orediggers are also second in assists at 275.
 
A BUSY, BUSY MAN
Graduate student Sam Beskind is an ambitious man and a bright one at that. After all, how many people can boast having two degrees from Stanford (B.S. & M.S. in Management Science & Engineering) already to their name while working on a second Master's degree while at Mines (Humanitarian Engineering/Advanced Energy Systems). The Tucson native is also doing all that in the classroom while also running the Orediggers offense from his point guard spot and is currently averaging 9.7 points per game and scored in double-digits in four of six contests this season while also averaging 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. And as if he weren't busy enough, he hosts his own podcast called "Built for Earth", which is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Started in January 2023, the series just released the first episode of season three this week and features interviews with industry leaders in the renewable energy space and discuss wide-ranging solutions to help preserve the planet and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. If you need something new to listen to and maybe learn a thing or tune, be sure to tune in. We're sure Sam won't mind some new listeners when he checks his analytics.
 
THE 200 CLUB
Some folks can go an entire career and not hit any major statistical milestones. Second-year graduate transfer point guard Sam Beskind needed only 47 games to reach one. The last time Mines was home against Colorado Christian, Beskind recorded his 200th career assist between his time at Mines and Stanford. The Tucson native has done most of that work during his time with the Orediggers, recording 201 assists since his arrival last season and ranking at or near the top of the RMAC as a result.  Depending on what he does the rest of the season, Beskind could pencil his name into the all-time assist list at Mines, eyeing Russ Pulling (1985-89) in 12th place with 248. He needs 56 to get there over the final two months of the season which includes 15 more games, and he would need to average 3.73 assists per game to get there. Considering he's putting up close to five per night halfway through the season, he's definitely got a chance to get there.
 
LOCKDOWN DEFENSE
As is no surprise when it comes to Pryor Orser coached teams, defense plays a big part in the success of the team and how the year will go. With 13 games to go the season, Mines leads the RMAC in scoring defense at 67.6 PPG and the lone team in the conference holding opponents under 70 per night. The Orediggers are also limiting teams to a .414 shooting percentage which ranks in the second in the RMAC. When it comes to rebounding, Mines leads the RMAC with 646 for an average of 38.0 RPG and have held opposing clubs to just 515 on the season, an average of 30.3 per game. Additionally, Mines leads the RMAC in blocked shots with 65, averaging 3.82 per game and has an assist to turnover ratio of 1.32 which trails only Chadron State.
 
STANDINGS RESET
One team now stands atop the RMAC as Colorado Mesa remains the lone unbeaten team in league play at 9-0. Fort Lewis suffered their first loss of the season the UCCS and narrowly avoided a second against Regis and is tied for second along with Mines at 9-1. Chadron State sits fourth at 6-3 with Black Hills State hanging around in fifth at 5-3. Regis currently sits sixth at 5-4 with MSU Denver and CSU Pueblo holding what would be the final two spots in the postseason at 4-4 and 5-5 respectively. South Dakota Mines is the first team out at 4-5 with UCCS right behind at 4-6 followed by New Mexico Highlands at 4-7. Colorado Christian is 12th at 3-6 with Adams State, Western Colorado and Westminster rounding out the standings at 2-7, 1-7 and 0-9. This is by no means an indication of where everyone in the league might finish, but rest assured the final eight weeks of the regular season are sure to be exciting.
 
LOOKING AT THE STATS
Ahead of the upcoming four-game home stand, Majok Deng remains the Mines leader in scoring at 15.0 PPG and is shooting .420/.400/.778 on the season and leading the team with 40 three-pointers this season. Cade Mankle continues to emerge as a leader on this year's team as well, scoring 12.5 PPG and shooting .510/.405/.731 and is tied with Deng for the team lead in made field goals with 76 while dishing out 42 assists. Riley Schroeder continues to be a steady hand night in and night out on both ends of the floor, scoring 9.4 PPG and pulling down almost four rebounds per game while shooting .471/.341/.850 with a team and RMAC-leading 21 blocks while also adding 11 steals.
 
Sam Beskind, the RMAC assist leader, enters the week with 81 to his name this season and scoring at a clip of 8.7 PPG following a monster weekend and is second on the team in rebounding at 6.1 per night while shooting .443 from the field and doubling his season three-point total in just two games last weekend while also finding himself in double figures in blocks (12) and steals (11). Freshman standout, Alex Romack, was recently highlighted by the NCAA's Wayne Cavadi as one of the top freshmen in Division II this season and for good reason; the Hoosier is scoring 8.6 PPG, pulling down 7.8 RPG, shooting .656 from the floor and has 13 blocks along with eight steals.
 
Adam Krasovec is coming off a double-double and continues to shine off the bench, scoring 7.1 PPG and shooting .500 from the floor while JUCO transfer Juani Dassie remains a lethal three-point threat off the bench, shooting .525 from downtown with 21 of his 29 made field goals this season being of the three-point variety to elevate his total field goal percentage to .580. Markus Pastorcic-Straun had nice outing Saturday in Las Vegas, scoring nine points to raise his average to 5.6 PPG and has 13 steals on the defensive end with 22 assists going the other way and is shooting .459 as a dribble-drive guard. Reagan Koch also has 11 steals on the season while Grant Pressly has got 24 dimes this year.
 
Collectively, the Orediggers are +8.5 in scoring margin at 76.1 PPG and shooting .480/.374/.683 on the season. They average an even 38 rebounds per night and are +7.7 in rebounding margin while also steadily raising their assist average to 16.2 per night while working to lower their turnover number to 12.2 per game, but still find themselves -2.2 in that category while registering 5.2 steals and nearly four blocks per contest. Comparatively, the opposition this season scores at a 67.6 clip and shoots .414/.335/.782 with 30.3 rebounds, 10.6 assists, 10.2 turnovers,6.3 steals and 2.4 blocks per game.
 
SCOUTING REGIS
The Rangers are .500 in the new year but are just six seconds shy of possibly being 3-1 in 2024, as they couldn't quite complete the upset of #9 Fort Lewis, getting edged at the free throw line in the closing seconds at home last Saturday by a score of 81-80 following an 80-68 win over Adams State Friday.
Chase Mayo Harmon is the lone player for RU scoring better than 10 a night, leading the way at 16.1 PPG and shooting .413/.400/.875 and leading the team with 30 three-pointers while ranking second in assists with 37 and coming up with 16 steals. Eddy Egun is on the cusp of joining him, scoring 9.9 PPG and shooting .538 from the floor with 20 assists, 13 steals and six blocks. Ty Cox is behind them, scoring 9.6 PPG and leading the team in rebounding at 5.3 per game.
 
Tarig Eisa has been a spark off the bench defensively, leading Regis with 20 blocks while also coming up with 18 steals and scoring 8.1 PPG. Trey Bryant also has 18 steals while leading the team with 39 assists and scores at a clip of 6.1 per game while CJ Reed's 25 steals lead in that category as he chips in 5.9 PPG.
 
As a group, the Rangers are scoring 74.8 PPG and are +1.7 in scoring margin, shooting .432/.353/.760 on the season. They average an even 34 rebounds, 13.8 assists, 14.5 turnovers, 8.9 steals and 3.3 blocks per game. Opponents this year are scoring 73.1 PPG and shooting .463/.356/.663 with 35.9 rebounds, 13.4 assists, 15.7 turnovers, 6.5 steals and 2.8 blocks per game.
 
 
SCOUTING UCCS
It's been an up and down season for the Mountain Lions this year, and they enter play this week trending up as they've won three in a row, including a weekend sweep over #9 Fort Lewis and Adams State this past weekend, following a three-game skid. They'll come up the road to Golden Saturday night following a meeting with MSU Denver Friday night as they'll look to improve on a 2-5 road record.
 
Xavier Martinez leads three players in double figure scoring for the Mountain Lions this year, checking in at 13.4 PPG and shooting .422/.315/827 on the season with a team best 23 three-pointers while also leading the way with 74 assists and 17 steals. Jesse Iweze follows at 12.7 PPG and is shooting .522 from inside as has converted 72 attempts at the free throw line this season while leading the way in rebounding at 7.3 per night while also picking up 11 steals and 10 blocks. Mac Stodart rounds out the group at 10.6 PPG, shooting .429 this season with 25 assists.
 
Jayden Washington is one to watch, playing in and starting all four games in the new year after missing the first 12 games of the season and currently averaging 9.8 PPG and 6.0 RPG. Hannes Saar has been a major distributor for UCCS this season as well, recording 42 assists while adding 15 steals and scoring 8.7 PPG. Noah Baca is also worth noting, shooting .553 from the field and scoring 6.6 PPG with 25 assists and nine steals. He went for a game-high 20 points in the upset win over #9 Fort Lewis Friday night as he drew the starting assignment and was one of four in double figures along with Martinez, Iweze and Saar.
 
For the season, UCCS is averaging 72.4 PPG and is +1.3 in scoring margin and is shooting .426/.327/.697. They pull down 36.8 rebounds per night and average 14.8 assists, 14.7 turnovers, 5.5 steals and 2.3 blocks per game. Opponents meanwhile average 71.1 PPG and shoot .446/.275/.660 with 35.0 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 7.6 steals and 2.7 blocks per game while being +2.2 in turnover margin, giving it up just 12.5 times per game.
 
SERIES HISTORY
This weekend will be the second time Mines will meet with Regis and UCCS, but the first time playing each team in games that count for the conference standings (the Orediggers took none-conference meetings with each team earlier this season). Against the Rangers, the Orediggers would get back to .500 in the series with a win, currently trailing 69-70 after the 93-79 win back in the first week of January. When playing at home against RU, Mines is 40-30 and will be playing host in the series for the first time since November of 2021. When it comes to the Mountain Lions, the Orediggers lead the series 38-13 following a 66-64 win back in November down in Colorado Springs. When playing at Lockridge Arena, Mines is 17-5 all-time, including 9-1 in the last 10 games in Golden. Saturday night's action will see Mines as the home team for the first time since December of 2020.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
The Orediggers will be back at home again next week for two more contests, starting Tuesday night against MSU Denver before taking on Western Colorado Saturday in the second meeting of the season with both teams.

Fans can keep up with Mines men's basketball on X and Instagram at @minesmbb. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, X and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.