GOLDEN, Colo. – Junior
Jonathon Mines hit five-of-six from deep to begin the game to narrow the deficit to single digits, but the Orediggers showed why they are one of the top-ranked teams in the country with the first 14 points of the game and never looked back as New Mexico Highlands (5-19, 5-15 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) fell to #14/14 Colorado School of Mines (21-3, 17-3 RMAC 109-63 Friday night (Feb. 20) in Golden, Colorado.
The Cowboys fell behind by 14 early and trailed 37-26 with 7:04 left in the first half when Mines and classmate
Kendrick Nichols hit back-to-back treys. The Cowboys trailed by 12 right before the half before Trevor Ritchie hit a triple right before the intermission to jumpastart a 12-0 Oredigger run that spanned both halves and doubled the lead.
Mines led the Cowboys with 25 while Nichols came off the bench for 14. Junior
Kaylen Shane added 11.
The home team hit 4-of-5 shots to begin the second half and go up by 24. Ritchie made a layup ad Gokul Natesan hit a jumper. After an offensive foul, Ritchie made a triple. After a stop, Ritchie missed a layup but Adam Laine collected the miss and made the layup. The home team never led by less than 22 in claiming the 46-point win.
Colorado School of Mines used a 44-24 edge in points in the paint and an 18-0 edge in fastbreak points. Five players reached double-digit scoring for the Orediggers, led by Natesan's 25. Ritchie had a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists while Caleb Waitsmen hit double figures in a pair of categories with 12 points and 15 rebounds.
The Cowboys conclude the Denver swing when they battle Colorado Christian tomorrow at 7 p.m.
