Box Score COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --- The South Dakota School of Mines men's basketball team found itself in a nailbiter Saturday night during a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game against the University of Colorado Colorado Springs on the road in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Unfortunately for the Hardrockers, they came out on the wrong end, dropping their second RMAC contest in a row, falling to the Mountain Lions, 66-64.
SD Mines had the momentum for a majority of the game, jumping out to a nine-point edge to start the game and leading by as much as 15 in the first half. But with UCCS's improved perimeter shooting in the second half, mixed with a costly scoring drought by SD Mines midway through the second half, the momentum swung the wrong way for Hardrockers.
The 'Rockers held the edge at halftime, leading, 40-32; but the Mountain Lions' improved play in the final 20 minutes, had them outscoring the Hardrockers, 34-24, in the second half.
Before the Hardrockers were able to stop the home team's momentum and regroup down the stretch, the Mountain Lions caught them and overtook the visitors midway through the second period and held an eight-point edge with 5:45 to play in the game.
SD Mines then rallied and got to within two points with less than a minute to play, but a last-second shot to tie the game by the Hardrockers was off the mark.
The Hardrockers finished shooting 44 percent in the game making good on 25-57 shots from the field, including eight from the three-point line and were 6-11 from the free throw line. They added 32 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and two blocks.
The Mountain Lions were 42 percent from the field, converting 25-59 attempts, including six three-pointers and were 6-10 from the foul line. They came down with 39 rebounds, 15 assists, four steals and one steal.
Individually for SD Mines, junior
Brian Orr had a stellar outing with 16 points, three rebounds and one assist. Freshman
Jake Heath also played well with 14 points, including four from behind the arc. Senior
Konor Kulas added 11 markers and collected eight rebounds and two assists. Senior Troy Whiteto contributed with eight points and one assist.
The Mountain Lions were led by Brandon Malone with 12 points and Padiet Wang added nine markers.
The loss drops SD Mines to 4-4 on the season and fall to 0-2 in conference play. The Hardrockers are back home for the next two weeks. First on the schedule is Colorado Christian Friday at the King Center.
