DENVER - The Regis University men's basketball team (6-1,1-0 RMAC) started out Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play with a thriller against the Colorado School of Mines Orediggers (2-3,0-1 RMAC), Tuesday night in Golden. In a game which featured seven total lead changes as well as neither team ever leading by double-digits, RU found the strength late to pull out the 66-62 win, giving them their first conference win of the season.

How it Happened: Although CSM took the lead with the first bucket of the game, it was just a two-score affair for a majority of the first frame. The Rangers ignited on a commanding 20-15 run to end the final 10 minutes of the first half, locking the score at 30-30 as the two teams headed into the locker room. 

In the final frame, RU found themselves down by seven at the 11 minute mark after a 3-pointer from the Orediggers, but the team kept their cool. Junior guard Eddy Egun matched the triple with one of his own on Regis' ensuing possession, silencing the ruckus crowd at Steinhauer Fieldhouse. The Rangers kept pace with the 2020 Elite Eight team and finally broke through with a monster 3-pointer from graduate student Ilisia Washington, making the score 58-57, Regis.

However, Mines wouldn't go away without a fight. The Orediggers tied the game back up at 62 with just 76 seconds to play. But an and-one opportunity from Egun as well as a breakaway layup from junior guard Will Cranston-Lown sealed the 66-62 dub for RU.

Game Notes: The Rangers played disciplined basketball as they only turned the ball over eight times compared to CSM's 14.

The team shot 41 percent from the field and 31 percent from behind the arc. 

Dawson (4-12 FG, 2-6 3-PT), who was coming off being named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week, led Regis with 14 points. He also had six rebounds in the win. 

Cranston-Lown (5-13 FG, 1-4 3-PT) and Washington (4-7 FG, 1-3 3-PT) were second on the team with 12 points apiece. The two also had six rebounds each. 

Egun (3-3 FG, 1-1 3-PT) shot perfectly tonight and totaled nine points off the bench. 

Redshirt junior forward Kevin Ebiriekwe (4-6 FG, 0-1 3-PT) added eight points while Freshman Brayden Carter (1-6 FG) did damage at the line with six points. 
 
Up Next for the Rangers: RU will return to action this Saturday when the South Dakota Mines Hardrockers (2-4) come to town. Tip is set for 1 p.m