GOLDEN, Colo. – Using a slow-tempo style of offense, the Western New Mexico University men's basketball team used that to their advantage to hold a halftime lead over #14 Colorado School of Mines. The Orediggers then responded in the second half to take the 76-57 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory Saturday night.

The methodical style of play helped WNMU (2-23, 2-19 RMAC) jump out early and often on CSM (22-3, 18-3 RMAC) throughout the first 20 minutes. Gavin Wood (Florence, AZ/Florence ) connected on a three 29 seconds in and a Terrez Scott (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia) three a minute later had WNMU in front by four, 6-2. The lead would stretch to seven with Steven Loucks (Yuma, AZ/Cibola) recording a layup and Marcos Castrillo (San Francisco, CA/Pinole Valley) a jumper for the 12-5 lead at the 16:19 mark.

The Orediggers would come back to take their first lead near the midway point of the half at 15-14. A Wood three and Castrillo layup had the Mustang lead back to five at 24-19 with 6:16 to go before the break. Tyler Shea (Rancho Cucamunga, CA/Alta Loma) would hit two from the line to help break a 28-all tie and give WNMU a 30-28 lead at the break. The first half featured just two fastbreak points.

In the second half, the No. 14 team in the nation responded in a big way. Over the first eight minutes they went on a 21-2 run to turn a two-point deficit into a 17-point lead.
That would be as close as WNMU would get the rest of the half as CSM outscored the Mustangs, 48-27, in the second stanza to take the victory.

Castrillo posted 17 points to lead WNMU. Scott added 10 points and team-highs in both rebounds (6) and assists (6). Trevor Ritchie led all-scorers and CSM with 20 points, as three Orediggers reached double-figures.

CSM exploded in the second half from the field, after going 10-of-24 (41.7) over the first 20 minutes, they hit a scorching 73.1 percent (19-26) in the second half to finish 29-of-50 (58) from the field. WNMU finished 19-of-44 (43.2) from the floor. CSM held a slight 7-6 edge on three-pointers, while WNMU had a 13-11 advantage at the charity stripe.

WNMU will close the regular season this coming Saturday at home at 4 p.m. against in-state rival New Mexico Highlands University. The Mustangs will honor their two seniors (Marcos Castrillo (San Francisco, CA/Pinole Valley) and Terrez Scott (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia)).