Mines Athletics
Tim Flynn
KANSAS CITY – Colorado School of Mines remains NCAA Division II’s top-ranked men’s basketball program for a fourth consecutive week, sitting #1 in the NABC Top 25 poll.
The Orediggers (10-0) returned to the court this past week after a nearly month-long layoff, handling Adams State 86-70 on Saturday and Regis 84-52 on Monday. Mines garnered 394 points and 12 of the 16 first-place votes, with Northern State at #2, Northwest Missouri State at #3, Lincoln Memorial at #4, and West Texas A&M at #5. After suffering their first loss of the season, Colorado Mesa slipped from #6 to #9. Mines and Mesa meet on Feb. 9 in Grand Junction.
Now 10-0 for the fifth time in program history – all under Pryor Orser – Mines has used a suffocating defense this season, allowing opponents just 59.9 points per game (3rd in NCAA D-II) while holding them to a .374 shooting clip (4th in D-II). Meanwhile, Mines is one of the nation’s most efficient offensive teams, shooting .527 to rank fifth-best in the nation. Individually, Brendan Sullivan is leading the way with 18.8 points, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, with Kobi Betts and Ben Boone each chipping in just over 11 points per game. The Oredigger frontcourt pairing of Michael Glen and Austin Means has been dominant with a combined 17.2 points and 12 rebounds per game.
Mines will begin a challenging stretch of four games in five days this Friday with a home date against MSU Denver.