GOLDEN, Colo.  Western Colorado came out of the halftime break on fire Thursday night at Colorado School of Mines, erasing a nine-point deficit to take the lead midway through the second half, but the Orediggers went on a tear in response and closed out an 84-67 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win at Lockridge Arena.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: CSM def. Western, 84-67
Records: Western 6-15 overall (4-9 RMAC), CSM 12-12 (8-5)
Location: Lockridge Arena, Golden, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Quincy Scott scored the opening points of the game with a quick layup after the opening tip, but by the third minute of the half the Orediggers had grabbed the lead and grew it to as many as 14 points before the teams headed into the halftime break with Mines ahead 41-32.
• The halftime talk in the Mountaineer locker room worked wonders, though, as Western opened the second half with a 10-2 run that brought them to within a point at 43-42.
• Mines was able to fend off that challenge and moved back out to a double-digit advantage (54-44), but the Mountaineers once again staged a big rally.
• Western attacked the basket during the run scoring 10 of the 14-3 run's points on layups, including a pair by Tyler Halligan and two from Joanis Koulisianis – his second one an offensive rebound and dunk.
• Leading 60-57 over the Orediggers things then fell apart for Western, though, as Mines finished the game on a 27-7 scoring run.

HARDWOOD NOTES

• Western shot 40% from the floor on the night, it was just that Mines shot 53%.
• The Mountaineers had one of their highest scoring nights from in close, racking up 44 points from within the paint. In contrast, however, they made just three 3-pointers during the game, their lowest figure from long range all season.
• Aidan McDowell scored 22 for Western, and he was joined in double digits by Scott (16) and Koulisianis (11).
• Four Orediggers reached double figures on the night, with Shelton Henton scoring a game-high 23 points.

UP NEXT
Western will continue the weekend road trip with a Saturday RMAC game against host MSU Denver at 3 p.m.