DENVER, Colo. --- Despite playing well and outscoring the Roadrunners in the second half, the South Dakota Mines Men's Basketball team was not able to end 2021 with a win.
Alejandro Rama got the Hardrockers off to an early lead, scoring the first points of the game on a three-pointer, but the Roadrunners immediately got some momentum, creating two points on a steal and fastbreak layup from Keyshawn Dixon. Heading into the media timeout, Kolten Mortensen would get a hoop and the harm. After the media, he would convert the free throw to tie the game at 6. Mortensen would continue to play well, carrying the offense with 8 of the first 11 points. Going into the second media at 11:08, the Hardrockers were trailing 13-11. The MSU Denver offense would continue to play well, expanding their lead to 21-16 with 7:06 to play in the first half. A Miles Gibson three would stretch the Roadrunner lead to 27-18, leading to a Hardrocker timeout. Out of the timeout Gibson would score on a dunk, then hit a jump shot and had all the momentum, leading 31-18. A layup by Brannagh Walsh off the dish by Markell Allums would finally put an end to the 12-0 Roadrunner run. Keagen Smith would connect on a layup off an assist by Kolton Frugoli to close the half with MSU Denver leading 33-22.

Early in the second half, the Hardrockers would claw back into the game, thanks to getting the three-ball to drop three times. An MSU Denver timeout would follow an Allums three cutting the deficit to 37-33. A couple of South Dakota Mines turnovers would lead to a 6-0 Roadrunner run allowing them to expand the lead once again, this time to 43-33. Following the timeout, each team would go on 5-0 runs, so the Roadrunners were still holding a 10-point lead. A Brevin Walter three followed by a steal and layup converted by Frugoli cut the deficit to 50-45. He was fouled and would make the free throw after the timeout, cutting the Roadrunner lead to 4. The Hardrockers would continue to inch closer, getting a free throw, then later getting a Brannagh Walsh hook shot, cutting the deficit to just one point, but the Roadrunners' Gibson would continue his good game, answering with a three, increasing their lead to 53-49. With just over a minute remaining, MSU Denver would head to the free throw line, hitting a pair. Down 6, South Dakota Mines had work to do. It would start with drawing a foul and Smith hitting 1. From there it would become a free throw game and MSU Denver would miss their first opportunity, followed by a Hardrocker timeout. Out of that, South Dakota Mines would score, cutting it to three then fouling again. South Dakota Mines would come up empty on the ensuing possession, falling 57-52.

About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.