GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. --- The Hardrocker offense struggled in the first half to just 18 points, digging themselves a 21-point deficit which was too much to come back from.
Early in the first half, the Mavericks got out to an early, 11-6 lead. Colorado Mesa would continue the momentum, going on a 7-0 run, to expand their lead to double-digits, 19-8. The Mavericks would continue to roll, expanding the run to 14-0 after an Isaac Jessup three, forcing a Hardrocker timeout.
Bryce Sherrell would break the run with back-to-back layups. Colorado Mesa would answer back with a three-pointer from Michael McCurry, but the Hardrocker offense would continue to its' recent good play, getting a basket from
Keagen Smith heading into the media timeout, Mesa leading 31-14. Colorado Mesa would continue its' performance, however, heading into halftime with a 39-18 lead.
To start the second half
Kolten Mortensen would get fouled connecting on a layup and hit the free throw, a harbinger of things to come, as the Hardrocker offense would be much improved in the second half. Being down 21, South Dakota Mines needed to step up and get some defensive stops as well, and early on they were not getting them, as the Mavericks earned back-to-back trips to the free-throw line, but the offense would continue to succeed and begin to chip away, cutting the deficit to 48-33. The momentum would continue with Mortensen and
Brevin Walter getting layups on consecutive possessions, eventually, the Hardrockers would cut it to 11, but the Mavericks were able to push it back to 56-39 with 11:03 to go at a timeout. Out of the timeout,
Alejandro Rama would hit his fourth three of the half, giving him 12 for the game. Colorado Mesa would retake the momentum and put it out of reach, going up 69-46 with just under five minutes to play. South Dakota Mines would continue to fight getting three's from Mortensen on consecutive possessions but with just 1:18 to go, the Mavericks were able to secure the win, 70-54.
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.
