Box Score SILVER CITY, N.M. – Making several runs in the second half, the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team nearly came all the way back, but Colorado School of Mines had too much down the stretch in claiming the 69-59 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Friday night.

Marcos Castrillo (San Francisco, CA/Pinole Valley) and Brandon Tanter (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) started the game strong for WNMU (0-5, 0-1 RMAC) as they connected on a layup and then free throws for the early two-point lead.

Following Tanter's last foul shot to make it 4-2, CSM (5-0, 1-0 RMAC) went on a 16-0 run to open an 18-4 lead.

Brandon Williams (Long Beach, CA/Los Angeles Prep) helped the Mustangs fight back to within 10 with a jumper off the fastbreak with 8:37 to go before halftime. With the Orediggers again poised to take another big lead, Williams helped start another run with a three-pointer. Roland Wyatt (Los Angeles, CA/Juniper Serra ) would hit a pair from the line and then two more from Gavin Wood (Florence, AZ/Florence ) had WNMU down by just eight, 32-24, with a minute to go before the break.

CSM finished the half strong going on a 5-0 run to take a 37-24 lead into halftime. WNMU held the advantage on second-chance points (8-6) and bench points (11-9).

In the second half, CSM had the lead in the 20's, but the Mustangs refused to go away.

Castrillo delivered a fastbreak layup to help start a 7-0 run. Terrez Scott (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia) added a jumper and then Wyatt converted a three-point-play leaving the Mustangs down by just 14 with three minutes still to play.

Tanter and Scott combined to bring the deficit down to 11, but with time ticking, the Mustangs would only be able to get as close as 10 after Adam Kesler (Silver City, NM/Silver) hit a layup leaving the deficit at 10.

Castrillo recorded a double-double going for 11 points and 12 rebounds. He also added two blocks and two steals. Tanter and Williams chipped in nine points each. Scott led the way in assists with four.

WNMU ended up leading the way in second-chance points (14-11) and fastbreak (13-4).

Brian Muller led CSM and all-scorers with 14 points, as four Orediggers reached double-figures.

WNMU will host Colorado Christian Saturday night beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Cougars defeated New Mexico Highlands, 77-66, earlier tonight.