GOLDEN Colo. – The Regis University men's basketball team (6-4, 3-2 RMAC) dropped back-to-back games for the first time this season as Colorado School of Mines (7-4, 5-0 RMAC) took the game 80-73 in Golden, Colorado.
How It Happened: The Rangers first three baskets came from three-point land, giving them a 9-8 advantage at the first media timeout. The Orediggers, however, scored four-straight points out of the timeout to claim a 12-9 edge.
RU answered back with buckets from Freshman Toni Rocak and junior Roberto Vercellino to put Regis back on top. They held their lead for just 14 seconds before an Orediggers layup gave them the advantage.
Neither team was able to pull away as there were nine lead changes in the first 10 minutes of action. The score was knotted at 26 with 7:05 lef tin the opening half. From there, the Orediggers outscored the Rangers 11-2 over the span of four minutes to take a 37-28 advantage. Junior Christian Little and Sophomore Brian Dawson took matters into their own hands, scoring eight-straight points for RU to bring them within one with just over a minute to play. Colorado School of Mines went into the locker room with a 42-41 halftime lead.
The teams traded buckets to open the half. Regis was able to tie the score twice before eventually taking a 50-49 edge thank to an and-one free-throw by Rocak five minutes into the half. In was then that the Ranger offense sputtered, going 0-for-5 with two turnovers over the next five minutes. The Orediggers took advantage of the RU miscues and jumped out to a 60-50 lead.
Two made attempts from the charity stripe by junior Taffy Tela halted the Orediggers run and brought the Regis deficit back to single digits. After trading free-throws, sophomore Tomas Auruskevicius got the Ranger offense rolling again with a trey assisted by Little. One the ensuing Orediggers possession, Vercellino picked their pocket before making a layup. He was sent to the line as he drew a foul on his way up. After his made free-throw, RU trailed by just sxc, 66-60, with seven minutes left in the contest.
Coming out of the media timeout, Little drained a short-range jumper, threatening the Orediggers lead. Senior Jarrett Brodbeck knocked-down two free-throws to bring Regis within two for the first time since 15:03 in the second half. Brodbeck then made a three after an Oredigger bucket to even the score at 69 apiece with just four minutes to play.
Senior Ryan Beisty gave the Rangers the advantage, 71-69, with a made layup before the last media timeout of the game. Colorado School of Mines tied the game at 71, but Dawson quickly downed a layup to keep the score in favor of the Rangers. The lead did not stand for long as the Orediggers made a three with two minutes on the clock. Unfortunately for RU, Colorado School of Mines made another three-pointer to stretch their lead to four, 77-73, with one minute to play. Unable to climb their way back into the game, the home team came away victorious 80-73.
Game Notes: Little scored 19 points while adding three bpards and five assists. Brodbeck chimed in with 15 points and two steals. Rocak added 12 points while Beisty managed six rebounds and one assist.
Regis shot 44.1 percent from the field but the Orediggers shot lights-out going 29-of-53.
Up Next for the Rangers: Eastern New Mexico University will visit Regis Fieldhouse on Wednesday, December 19 for a nonconference game at 3 p.m.
