GOLDEN, Colo. – A quartet of big performances Saturday led the Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team to a 92-84 win over Northern New Mexico at Lockridge Arena in the first action of the new year. Led by Markus Pastorcic-Straun's 23 points, the Orediggers (6-9) closed out non-conference action on a high note against the Eagles (3-8) and staved off a late rally in part thanks to the efforts of Alex Romack along with Jonathan Moore and Shelton Henton.
 
Romack scored the first five of the afternoon for Mines as they opened up a 9-2 lead in the first three minutes in their return to action. Pastorcic-Straun and Moore got going next and combined for the next nine points to run the lead to 14-5. Back-to-back treys from Shelton Henton around the 14-minute mark gave the Orediggers their biggest lead of the half at 20-9 before New Mexico Highlands transfer TJ Sanchez led the charge back for NNMC as they closed back to within three at 22-19 near the midway point of the opening frame. A 1-2 trip to the line by Marquise Delahaye made it a 24-23 game at 9:05, but a quick 6-0 run by Romack and Pastorcic-Straun capped with a steal-and-score dunk gave the Orediggers some breathing room now up by seven. As Sanchez kept it close for the Eagles, the trio of Henton, Braydon Jacob and Will Cordonnier helped stretch the lead back to double figures at 42-32 with a series of three-pointers before an 8-0 Northern New Mexico run into the locker room made it 44-42 after 20 minutes.
 
An 11-3 run to open the second half saw the lead move back to 10 at 55-45 as Henton scored the first five of the period backed up by Trent Minter, Romack and Pastorcic-Straun. The margin hovered between six and nine for nearly the next four minutes before a quick 6-0 burst from Sanchez and Diego Sharp cut the lead to 65-62 with 11:35 to play. Mines again tried to regain some separation, but Sanchez and Sharp were having none of it as the Eagles started to feel themselves, closing to within two at 71-69 on a three from sharp before tying the game at 74 with a quick five from the standout duo. Unfortunately for NNMC, foul trouble started to catch up with them down the stretch as the team leader in scoring heading into the game Harkirath Makhar fouled out with five minutes left as Pastorcic-Straun retook the lead at the stripe.
 
Northern New Mexico rallied as Jesus Mendoza, also playing with four fouls, drilled a three-pointer at 4:18 to give them their first lead of the game at 77-76. A 1-2 trip to the line by Pastorcic-Straun followed by a layup from Kellon Johnson swung the lead back in favor of Mines at 79-77 before Sharp converted a three-point play opportunity to retake a one-point lead with 3:27 remaining. The freshman duo of Johnson and Henton came through big over the next 73 seconds for Mines, as they scored the next seven points to retake the lead for good as part of a 9-0 run that made it 88-80 with 1:37 to go. The veterans closed things out as buckets by Romack and Pastorcic-Straun wrapped things up as Mines secured the 92-84 win to open 2026.
 
NOTABLES
-Pastorcic-Straun bounced back from a tough weekend to end 2025 by dropping 23 on 8-16 shooting with seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block to begin the new year
-Henton dropped the first 20-ball of his career with a season-high 21 off the bench on 8-14 shooting including a season-best five treys while dishing out for dimes and grabbing three boards
-Romack made it eight double-doubles this season Saturday as he went for 17 points with 14 boards, including eight on the offensive glass, while also adding two blocks and a steal while shooting 7-11; he's now matched his career total in double-doubles entering this season and is up to 16 in 82 games
-Moore was a perfect 6-6 at the stripe and went 3-6 from the floor to finish with 13 points while reeling in seven rebounds along with two blocks and a steal of his own
-Minter had a big day on the glass, hauling in a season-high 11 rebounds
-Johnson and Jacob each added five with the former hauling in four boards and the latter dishing three assists
-Mines collected 56 rebounds and finished one shy of their season-best mark back on November 25 while their 23 offensive boards were the most this season and most in a single game since they also pulled in 23 on the offensive glass all the way back on February 15, 2008 against UCCS
-The Orediggers also added seven blocks on the defensive end, their second-highest total this season
-Mines improves to 4-0 all-time against Northern New Mexico
 
UP NEXT
It'll be all RMAC play for the rest of the season as league action resume at home this weekend when Mines hosts Chadron State and South Dakota Mines January 8 and 10.

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.