Men’s Basketball Opens Their Season with a Route

On Friday, the Colorado School of Mines opened their season with six players in double figures as they walloped Carroll College 96-58. Leading the way in scoring for the Orediggers was No. 20 Trevor Ritchie with 16 points. Ritchie also added 4 assists going 8-for-8 from the charity stripe.

The game started with Mines falling behind 6-2 before tying it up at 8-8. From then on, Mines started to take control of the game and led by 12 points (46-34) at the half. Mines scored the first 11 points of the second half to take full control of the game and let the blow-out commence as the closest Carroll College was in the second half was when the second half started.

Defensively, Mines held their opponent to a 48.9% field goal percentage while shooting 54.5% themselves, but the key to the game was turnovers and the ability of the Orediggers to get to the free-throw line. Mines took 33 free throws compared to only eight for Carroll College, and they made 28 of these 33 for a 84.8% free-throw percentage. Mines outrebounded their opponent 27-14 and had seven steals and five blocks in the contest as a team.

All five starters for Mines were in double figures on the night for the Orediggers. Joining Ritchie in the starting lineup were No. 32 Trevor wages with 13 points, No. 44 Luke Meisch with 14, No. 11 Brett Green with 14, No. 22 Brian Muller with 15, and coming off the bench to score 10 was No. 31 Gokul Natseen. Wages added 10 rebounds and a block to his points total, and Meisch tallied three rebounds, two assists, and a steal. No. 40 Clay Boatwright had two blocks to lead the team and No. 23 Caleb Waitsman added five rebounds and four points off the bench.

The Orediggers play this Saturday at 7:00pm in Lockridge Arena, so come support your Orediggers in their home-opener.