BILLINGS, Mont. – The #10 Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team had an early start Saturday morning on day of the D2CCA Tipoff Classic at the Trailhead as they looked lined up opposite long-time former RMAC member Nebraska-Kearney. In a back-and-forth battle that saw a combined 19 lead changes, the Orediggers (0-2) came up just short for the second day in a row as the Lopers (1-1) held on for an 85-76 win.
 
Mines scored first on a second-chance basket from Markus Pastorcic-Straun before Alex Romack converted a pair of free throws to take an early four-point lead. Nebraska-Kearney scored the next six from Kendrick Gilbert and Taylor Harrell as they took their first lead and posted the first of 11 lead changes in the opening period. A 10-0 burst from the Orediggers included the first career points for Will Essman and Matija Jordovic saw the lead change hands again at 14-6 before UNK closed back with a basket with 11:40 to play behind a quick 6-0 run of their own.
 
Mines continued to lead until a 7-0 run by the Lopers starting at 10:04 saw things change hands again at 21-19 following a layup by Phillip March. As the clock wound under eight minutes in the opening stanza, the lead changed hands a total of eight times heading into the break. Three-pointers from Braydon Jacob and Essman accounted for two leads during the exchange for the Orediggers, who had a chance to carry the advantage into halftime with the ball and 28 seconds left, but a turnover led to a second-chance bucket on the other end as UNK led 36-34 after 20 minutes.
 
The Orediggers kept things close as the second half began and just UNK started to pull away at 43-36 following a Wade Williams dunk, a Will Cordonnier trey and a Pastorcic-Straun layup cut the gap back to two. The junior from Ontario scored the next four to tie the game at 45 before retaking the lead at 12:21 on a layup. A flurry of four lead changes followed before Mines started to establish an edge at 53-50 with 11:08 to go on a jumper by Romack.
 
The lead grew to six at the halfway point in the period but no further before the Lopers rallied to tie the game at 56 with 8:19 remaining. A trio of three-pointers from Cordonnier helped stem the tide momentarily as his final trey at 6:35 made it 65-63. A three the other way from Williams saw the lead change hands for the final time as UNK slowly pulled away over the final 5:19 as they held on down the stretch for the 85-76 win.
 
NOTABLES
-Pastorcic-Straun led all scorers as he dropped the first 30-ball of his career, ending with 32 behind 12-17 shooting with seven boards and six assists
-Romack turned in his first double-double of the season, going for 16 points and 11 rebounds
-Cordonnier came off the bench and shined in his second career game, turning in his first double figure performance with 14 on 5-8 shooting including 4-5 from long range with six rebounds
-Essman made his collegiate debut Saturday morning, scoring seven off the bench in 19 minutes to go with three rebounds
-Jordovic scored his first career points in five off the bench
-Lamb made his first career start and pulled in two rebounds
-Free throw shooting in the second half hampered Mines, who went 8-19 from the stripe over the final 20 minutes
 
UP NEXT
Mines closes the weekend out Sunday at 11 a.m. against regional foe Angelo State.

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.