RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The Western Colorado men's basketball team fell to South Dakota Mines 71-55 on Saturday at the King Center.
 
The Mountaineers (5-8 overall, 2-5 RMAC) trailed for all but 34 seconds in the contest as the Hardrockers (6-7, 3-4) jumped out to a 9-2 advantage and WCU never got within a possession of Mines the rest of the way – trailing 39-24 at the half before being outscored by a point in the second half.
 
Will Willis and Jackson Ehrlin led the way for the Mountaineers with 13 points apiece with Willis adding a team-high seven rebounds. The Mountaineers shot 36.7 percent from the field, including 6-for-20 from 3-point range, compared to 47.5 percent for Mines (2-for-11 from 3-point range). The Hardrockers did much of their work in the paint, outscoring the Mountaineers 42-18 from the inside.
 
The Mountaineers return home next week as they take on CSU-Pueblo 7:30 p.m. Friday and New Mexico Highlands 7 p.m. Saturday.