RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The Hardrocker offense powered by 48% shooting from the field and 45% from three-point range was able to shoot themselves out of their funk and pick up the much-needed victory over CCU.
How It Happened –
The first half started with both offenses scoring at will with 22 points combined in the first three minutes. The teams continued to trade buckets, with the Hardrockers out to a slight, 21-20 lead with 12:24 remaining. Ross Williams and
Keagen Smith were the teams' leaders with 9 and 8 points, respectively. CCU would get the first slight advantage, leading 30-26 with 6:15 to play at the media timeout. Stretching to before the timeout, a 9-0 run capped by an
Alejandro Rama three gave the Hardrockers a 33-30 lead. The run would continue with a
Brevin Walter one handed shot in the lane pushing the lead to 35-30 at the media timeout with 3:26 to go. Another 6-0 spurt with back-to-back threes from Rama and Walter pushed the Hardrocker lead to 8, their biggest of the game. Going into halftime, South Dakota Mines held a 45-38 lead.
Early in the second half, the two teams' offenses would continue to have success, but CCU would go on a 5-0 run to bring the game within 1 point. The CCU momentum would carry on, with Ross Williams' having a big second half, pushing the Cougars to a 63-57 lead.
Brevin Walter would continue to have a big night, scoring 6 in a row, giving him 31 and bringing the game right back to within 1, Hardrockers trailing, 66-65. Moments later, a
Kolten Mortensen three would give South Dakota Mines the lead back, 68-66. The two teams would continue to battle back and forth. With 52.5 seconds on the clock,
Brevin Walter would hit the two technical free throws, giving him 38, followed by two free throws hit by
Keagen Smith. South Dakota Mines led 78-75. Ross Williams would drill a three on the other end, tying it up with 35.5 seconds to go. On the other end
Alejandro Rama would hit a three-pointer at the top of the key that would turn out to be the game winner as a couple of attempts at a tie would not go down for CCU.
Hardrockers Leaders:
Brevin Walter scored 38 points on the night, the most for the Hardrockers in a game since at least 2004-05.
Kolten Mortensen recorded another double-double, grabbing 14 rebounds to go along with 17 points.
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.
