GOLDEN, Colo. Western Colorado will look to pick up a huge Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win on Sunday (Dec. 18) when they take on No. 9 Colorado School of Mines on the road at 7 p.m.
 
MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS | RMAC STATS | RMAC STANDINGS

• Western hasn't started RMAC competition the way they wanted to, losing their first four RMAC contest. However, two of those four loses have come by four-points or less – showing that things just haven't been bouncing their way early on.
• Offensively, the Mountaineers have the 14th ranked offense four games into RMAC contest, averaging 66.3-points per game (PG).
• Avery Rembao has been the top scorer for Western averaging 18-points PG (eighth in RMAC), while Robel Desta is a few spots down ranked 13th in the RMAC averaging 16.5-points PG.
• Despite not being the top scorer for the Mountaineers, Desta is the best shooter making a team high 40 percent of his shots (20th in RMAC). Additionally, Desta is also one of the best free throw shooters in the RMAC knocking down 95.5 percent from the line (second in RMAC).
• On the defense end, Western has the 11th ranked defense giving up 76-points PG.
• When it comes to grabbing rebounds, Gino Corridori is one of the best in the RMAC, grabbing 9 rebounds PG (fourth in RMAC). Desta is not far behind in that category, grabbing 7.8 PG (seventh in RMAC).
• Ranked seventh in the RMAC in block shots, Corridori averages 1 block a game, and is followed by Desta and Grant Wilkinson who average 0.8 PG (tied for eighth in RMAC).

OREDIGGERS HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | SEASON STATS 

• No. 9 Colorado School of Mines has been impressive so far this season, currently having a 9-1 overall record. In RMAC standings they are 3-1, after losing 77-85 in overtime to No. 5 Black Hills State (Dec. 10).
• Early on in RMAC competition, the Orediggers have the seventh ranked offense averaging 74.5-points PG.
• Adam Thistlewood is the leading scorer for Colorado School of Mines averaging 18.5-points PG (sixth in RMAC) and gets help from Sam Beskind who pitches in with 14.8-points (17th in RMAC).
• In terms of field goal percentage, Thistlewood is also leads the team in that category shooting 54 percent (seventh in RMAC). Right on his heels is Beskind who shoots 51.4 percent (ninth in RMAC). At the free throw line, Beskind leads the way knocking down 89.5 percent (fourth in RMAC) and Kai Barr is not far behind ranked sixth making 85.7 percent.    
• Making it hard for opponents to score, the Orediggers have the third ranked defense only allowing 70.3-points PG.
• Thistlewood leads the way on the glass, grabbing 6.5 rebounds PG (12th in RMAC). Leading their team in blocked shots, Barr and Riley Schroeder average 0.8 PG (tied for eighth in RMAC). Some of the better defenders when it comes to picking pockets, Beskind and Reagan Koch lead their team in steals each averaging 2.0 PG (tied for fourth in RMAC).