CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS TO METRO STATE, 81-71

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team fell to ninth-ranked Metro State, 81-71, in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday night in Volk Gym.

Metro State took a 39-37 lead at the half and extended the lead to 12 points (59-47) on a three-pointer by Michael Bahl with 12 minutes to play in the game. The Orediggers were able to slice the lead to seven points on a few occasions, but could get no closer.

CSM (14-13, 8-11 RMAC) senior forward Ian Elseth (Grants Pass, Ore./Oregon State) finished with a game-high 27 points and six rebounds. Senior guard Franklin Ryk (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) added 14 points, while sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) scored seven.

Metro State improved to 24-3 overall and clinched the top spot in next week's RMAC Shootout by winning the RMAC East Division (17-2). Marquise Carrington led the Roadrunners with 23 points and four assists, while Benas Veikalas added 12 off the bench. Jesse Wagstaff tallied 10 points and six rebounds.

The loss concludes the 2006-07 season for the Orediggers.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS TO COLORADO CHRISTIAN, 66-53

GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado Christian's Brian Stamer tallied 32 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Cougars to a 66-53 win over Colorado School of Mines in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Friday night in Volk Gym.

The Cougars led 55-51 with two minutes to play and pushed the lead to seven when Peter Bailey hit a three-pointer with 1:28 to play and the shot clock winding down. CCU then nailed eight straight free throws down the stretch to seal the win.

The Orediggers (14-12, 8-10 RMAC) were led by senior forward Ian Elseth (Grants Pass, Ore./Oregon State) who tallied 19 points and five boards. Senior forward Clayton Moores (Denver, Colo./Ranum) added six points and six boards.

Bailey finished with 10 points for the Cougars.

CSM will return to action on Saturday night with an 8:00 pm game against Metro State in Volk Gym.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL TOPS UCCS, 76-74

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team moved into third place in the RMAC East Division with a 76-74 win over UC-Colorado Springs in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday night at the Lions Den.

CSM improved to 14-11 (8-9 RMAC), while the Mountain Lions fell to 14-10 (7-10 RMAC) with their seventh straight loss.

The Orediggers claimed a 42-30 lead at the half, but UCCS rallied the entire second half and tied the game at 60-60 with 6:54 to play. CSM led by three with five seconds to play after sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) nailed two free throws.

CSM Coach Pryor Orser elected to foul so UCCS could not get off a tying three-point attempt and the strategy worked. Nic Fuller hit the first free throw to make it 76-74 and missed the second one intentionally. However, UCCS's Bly McGuire chased down the rebound and got off a shot before the buzzer that did not fall.

Senior forward Ian Elseth (Grants Pass, Ore./Oregon State) led CSM with 19 points and seven boards, while Pape finished with 17 points. Senior guard Franklin Ryk (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) added seven points and a career-high 10 rebounds.

Fuller led UCCS with 17 points, while Kyle Perkins added 15.

CSM will return to action on Friday night when it hosts Colorado Christian at 8:00 pm in Volk Gym.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL WINS AT REGIS, 81-55

DENVER, Colo. - Five players scored in double digits to help the Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team to an 81-55 win over Regis in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Friday night at Regis Fieldhouse.

Senior guard Franklin Ryk (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) led the way with 17 points, while senior forward Clayton Moores (Westminster, Colo./Ranum) added 11 points and nine rebounds.

Senior forward Ian Elseth (Grants Pass, Ore./Oregon State) chipped in 13 points and seven boards, while sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) scored 11 and sophomore guard Grant Gunhus (Fargo, N.D./Park Christian) chipped in 10 points.

Regis (8-16, 3-14 RMAC) received 17 points from Brandon Butler.

CSM (13-11, 7-9 RMAC) will return to action Saturday night with an 8:00 pm game at UC-Colorado Springs. The two teams are currently tied for third place in the RMAC East Division and are fighting for the seventh and eighth spots in the RMAC Shootout.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL LOSES AT CHADRON STATE, 76-71

CHADRON, Neb. - The Chadron State men's basketball team rallied from a 36-28 halftime deficit to post a 76-71 win over Colorado School of Mines in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday night in Armstrong Gym.

However, the game was not without controversy. The teams went to their benches with just over three minutes to play and the score tied. However, when the two teams returned to the court, Chadron State had a three point lead. The mysterious three points came from a three-pointer that the scorer's table said occured at the 5:06 mark.

CSM Head Coach Pryor Orser disagreed and said he has the tape to prove it.

"We went into the timeout with a tie score," Orser said. "When we came out of the timeout, we are down three points and nothing was done about it. It really changed the game. We will be filing a formal protest with the RMAC office."

CSM (12-11, 6-9 RMAC) was led by senior center Ian Elseth (Grants Pass, Ore./Oregon State) who posted a career-high 29 points and eight boards.

CSC (6-16, 4-11 RMAC) received a double-double from Marcus Ligons. He finished with 20 points and 10 boards.

The Orediggers will return to action on Friday night when they travel to Regis for an 7:00 pm game.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS AT NEBRASKA-KEARNEY, 88-67

KEARNEY, Neb. - The Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team dropped an 88-67 decision at Nebraska-Kearney, the fourth ranked team in the North Central Region, in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

CSM (12-10, 6-8 RMAC) led for a majority of the first half and took its largest lead of the game (32-25) with 7:05 to play in the first half on a free throw from senior forward Ian Elseth (Grants Pass, Ore./Oregon State).

However, the Lopers closed the half strong and took a 43-40 lead at intermission. From there, the Lopers pushed their lead to 16 points midway through the second half in claiming the win.

CSM sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) scored 15 points, while Elseth finished with 14 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Grant Gunhus (Fargo, N.D./Park Christian) also finished in double digits with 11 markers.

UNK (18-4, 13-2 RMAC) received a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds from Dusty Jura. Nick Morrell added 18 points off the bench, while Chad Burger finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.

CSM is slated to return to action Saturday night when it plays at Chadron State. Tipoff is slated for 8:00 pm.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL TOPS REGIS, 71-49

GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) scored 22 points to lead the Orediggers to their fourth win in the last five games, 71-49, over Regis on Saturday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action in Volk Gym.

CSM fell behind 10-0 just four minutes into the game and trailed by as many as 12 points (26-14) with 5:53 to play in the first half. However, the Orediggers finished the half on a 19-3 run to take a 33-29 lead at halftime.

The Orediggers would push the lead to 11 points (40-29) on a three-pointer from sophomore guard Grant Gunhus (Fargo, N.D./Park Christian) with 16:15 to play and the Rangers would not threathen from there.

Gunhus finished with 13 points, while senior forward Davey Iverson (Winnett, Mont./Winnett) added 10 points and four rebounds. CSM outrebounded the Rangers, 36-25.

Regis (7-13, 2-11 RMAC) was led by Brandon Butler who totaled 17 points and six boards.

CSM (12-9, 6-7 RMAC) pulled to within one game of UC-Colorado Springs (14-7, 7-6 RMAC) in the RMAC East Division. The Orediggers will return to action Thursday night with an 8:00 pm game at Nebraska-Kearney.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS UC-COLORADO SPRINGS, 88-75

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team placed all five starters in double figures en route to an 88-75 win over UC-Colorado Springs in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Friday night in Volk Gym.

CSM took a 3-0 lead when sophomore guard Grant Gunhus (Fargo, N.D./Park Christian) hit a three pointer just 54 seconds into the game and never trailed after that.

Gunhus finished with a career-high 19 points, while senior forward Ian Elseth (Grants Pass, Ore./Oregon State) added a game-high 22 points and nine boards.

Senior guard Franklin Ryk (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) tallied 16 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) finished with 17 points and four assists. Senior forward Davey Iverson (Winnett, Mont./Winnett) contributed 10 points and five boards.

The five starters combined for 84 of the 88 points and the Orediggers shot 51 percent (30-59) from the field and 50 percent (9-18) from three-point land.

The Mountain Lions came into the game as the top scoring team in the RMAC at 84.9 points per game. That total was also 11th best in Division II.

Nic Fuller led the way for UCCS (14-7, 7-6 RMAC) with 19 points and six rebounds. RMAC leading scorer Patrick Hannaway (23.8 ppg; 8th in Division II) was held to a season low 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting.

CSM (11-9, 5-7 RMAC) will return to action Saturday night when it hosts Regis at 8:00 pm in Volk Gym.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS TO NEBRASKA-KEARNEY, 80-63

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team fell to Nebraska-Kearney, 80-63, in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday night in Volk Gym.

The Lopers entered the game ranked third in the North Central Region and improved to 15-3 overall (10-1 RMAC). CSM fell to 10-9 overall and 4-7 in the conference.

UNK led 32-29 at the half before CSM was able to knot the game at 43-43 on a layup from junior forward Ben Mohr (Colorado Springs, Colo./Palmer). However, the Lopers would score the next 10 points to take a 53-43 lead just two minutes later and CSM could not get any closer.

CSM senior forward Ian Elseth (Grants Pass, Ore./Oregon State) scored 22 points and grabbed seven boards to lead the Orediggers. Senior forward Davey Iverson (Winnett, Mont./Winnett) added 11 points and eight boards off the bench, while sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) chipped in five points and six assists.

Dusty Jura led UNK with 27 points and seven rebounds. Chad Burger (14), Drake Beranek (12) and Josiah Parker (10) also scored in double digits for the Lopers.

CSM will return to action on Friday night when it hosts UC-Colorado Springs at 8:00 pm in Volk Gym.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL TOPS CHADRON STATE, 59-58, ON
CASEY O'HAYRE'S LAST SECOND LAYUP

GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines sophomore guard Casey O'Hayre (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield) hit a layup with one second left to give the Orediggers a 59-58 win over Chadron State in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Friday night in Volk Gym.

CSM trailed 58-57 after Fernando Bonfim hit a short hook shot in the lane with 17 seconds left. After a CSM turnover with eight seconds to play, the Orediggers fouled Kody Christensen who missed the front end of a one and one. CSC's Marcus Ligons got the rebound, but Oredigger sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) stole the ball, dribbled up the right sideline and found a wide open O'Hayre under the basket for the game-winner.

Pape finished with a game-high 16 points, five assists and four rebounds to lead the Orediggers. Senior guard Franklin Ryk (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) added 11 points, four assists and three boards, while senior forward Ian Elseth (Grants Pass, Ore./Oregon State) chipped in 11 points and four rebounds.

The Eagles (3-14, 2-9 RMAC) were led by Ligons who scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Bonfim added 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

CSM (10-8, 4-6 RMAC) will return to action Saturday night when it hosts Nebraska-Kearney at 8:00 pm in Volk Gym.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS JOHNSON AND WALES, 72-58

GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines sophomore guards Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) and Grant Gunhus (Fargo, N.D./Park Christian) combined for 37 points and 11 three-pointers to lead the Orediggers to a 72-58 nonconference win over Johnson & Wales Tuesday night in Volk Gym.

Pape scored a game-high 20 points on 6-of-16 shooting, all from three-point land, while Gunhus tied his career-high with 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range.

CSM (9-8) senior forward Clayton Moores (Denver, Colo./Ranum) posted a double-double with 14 points and a game-best 12 boards. It was the first double-double by an Oredigger this year.

JWU (3-17) was led by Danny Lopez who scored 14 points.

The Orediggers will return to action Friday night when they host Chadron State at 8:00 pm in Volk Gym.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL LOSES AT COLORADO CHRISTIAN, 67-51

LAKEWOOD, Colo. - Colorado Christian's Brian Stamer tallied a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Cougars to a 67-51 win over Colorado School of Mines in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday night at Cougar Fieldhouse.

CCU (6-9, 3-6 RMAC) led 23-17 at halftime and pushed the lead to as many as 13 points in the second half. CSM was able to cut the lead to six points with just under five minutes to play, but would get no closer.

CSM sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) scored a game-high 21 points, while senior forward Davey Iverson (Winnett, Mont./Winnett) added seven markers.

Justin Neuhaus totaled 15 points and eight boards to aid Stamer, while Jordan Long registered 12 points.

CSM (8-8, 3-6 RMAC) will return to action Tuesday night when it hosts Johnson & Wales at 7:00 pm in Volk Gym.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS TO 11TH RANKED METRO STATE, 64-48

DENVER, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team fell to 11th ranked Metro State College Friday night, 64-48.

The Orediggers were led by Ian Elseth who scored 15 points on the night along with seven rebounds.

Mines went into halftime down 18-29, they came out in the second half closing the gap but were still outscored 35-30. The 11th ranked roadrunners proved to much for the Orediggers as they went on to win 64-48.

Mines fell to 8-7 overall and 3-5 in the RMAC with the loss.

Mines will return to action tonight with a game against The Colorado Christian Cougars. Game time is at 7:00 pm at Colorado Christian.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS ADAMS STATE, 59-58,
ON KYLE PAPE'S BUZZER BEATERCSM MEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS

GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) hit a high arching shot in the lane at the buzzer to cap a dramatic 59-58 come from behind win over Adams State in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday night in Volk Gym.

CSM trailed 58-50 with 1:40 to play, but scored the final nine points of the game to earn the win. The rally started on a three-pointer by senior guard Franklin Ryk (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) with 1:23 to play.

After a missed free throw by Roman Moniak on the front end of a one and one, CSM senior forward Ian Elseth (Grants Pass, Ore./Oregon State) made a layup and was fouled with 43 seconds to play. Elseth missed the free throw, but senior forward Davey Iverson (Winnett, Mont./Winnett) grabbed the rebound and made a layup to cut the lead to 58-57.

Iverson then blocked a layup attempt on the other end by Larry Charles, Jr. with 12 seconds left that set up the heroics of Pape.

Elseth finished with 14 points and six rebounds, while Ryk tallied 13 points, four rebounds and three assists. Pape recorded nine points and four rebounds.

ASC's (4-10, 3-4 RMAC) Wes Jensen tied Elseth for game-high honors with 14 points, while Moniak and David Hull scored 13 points each.

CSM (8-6, 3-4 RMAC) will return to action Friday night with a 7:00 pm game at Metro State.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL LOSES TO CSU-PUEBLO, 55-46

GOLDEN, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team slipped to 7-6 (2-4 RMAC) with a 55-46 loss to Colorado State-Pueblo in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Friday night in Volk Gym.

It was the first time CSM has lost at home this season (6-1).

CSM trailed 16-6 midway through the first half, but cut the deficit to one point (20-19) with 1:25 to play on a layup from senior forward Ian Elseth (Grants Pass, Ore./Oregon State). However, the Thunderwolves would end the half on a 7-0 run to take a 27-19 lead at the half.

The Orediggers managed to cut their deficit to as little as three points on two occasions in the second half, but would get no closer.

Elseth led CSM with 14 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) added 14 markers and five boards.

CSU-Pueblo (8-7, 4-3 RMAC) received 13 points and three assists from Ty McTyer. He was the lone Thunderwolf to reach double digits.

CSM will return to action Saturday night when it hosts Adams State at 8:00 pm in Volk Gym.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS AT MESA STATE, 69-54

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team fell to 7-5 overall and 2-3 in conference play with a 69-54 setback at Mesa State in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Saturday night.

Ian Elseth led Mines with 14 points Saturday night, while Franklin Ryk chipped in 11 points and seven rebounds.

Mines went into half with a six point lead, but were outscored 24-45 in the second half giving the Mavericks the 69-54 victory over the Orediggers.

Mines will return to action friday night with an 8:00 pm home game against CSU-Pueblo.

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CSM MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS AT FORT LEWIS, 73-67

DURANGO, Colo. - The Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team fell to 7-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play with a 73-67 setback at Fort Lewis in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Friday night at Whalen Gymnasium.

Sophomore guard Kyle Pape (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani) led the Orediggers with 17 points, while sophomore guard Casey O'Hayre (Littleton, Colo./Chatfield) added a career-best 15 points.

The Orediggers, who were tied 41-41 at the half, shot 12-of-24 from three-point land, including 5-of-7 from O'Hayre.

Tim Bieri led FLC (10-3, 2-2 RMAC) with 20 points and six assists.

CSM will return to action Saturday night with an 8:00 pm game at Mesa State.

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