Photo courtesy LCU Athletic Communications

LUBBOCK, Texas - #5 Colorado School of Mines couldn't overcome mistakes and the outside shooting of St. Mary's in an 82-59 setback to start the 2021-22 season at Lubbock Christian's Rip Griffin Center.

Ben Boone sank a game-high 19 to highlight an otherwise tough night for the Oredigger, who committed 15 turnovers. The Rattlers scored 21 points off those giveaways and rode 10-of-23 three-point shooting to the win.

Brendan Sullivan scored 14, and Kai Barr chipped in eight. Kobe Magee led Saint Mary's with 17 points and CJ Washington had 16 as six different Rattlers sank at least one three-pointer. 

The story of the first half was St. Mary's prolific three-point shooting versus the Orediggers' ability to get to the line; the Rattlers drained eight first-half outside shots to Mines' three, but the Orediggers made 10 first-half free throws to zero for StMU. That resulted in a 38-32 Rattler lead at the break. 

The Rattlers opened the second half on a 7-0 run capped by Mamady Djinke's three-point play to extend the lead to 45-32, and despite Justin Engesser getting Mines back in the scoring column following that, the Rattlers never led by less than nine the rest of the game. A 6-0 spurt in the middle of the half shut the door on any Oredigger comeback hopes as consecutive baskets by Josh Brewer, Magee, and Washington opened up a 19-point lead at 65-46. A Boone three-pointer, Riley Schroeder layup, and Sullivan drive pared it back to 12, but Magee's three and a transition dunk by Djikine stopped any Mines momentum with 5:21 left. 

NOTABLES
- Mines shot 41 percent for the game to St. Mary's 48 percent. 
- Boone was 8-of-13 overall and 3-of-4 from three, sinking Mines' only outside buckets of the night. He also added seven rebounds and two assists. 
- St. Mary's took 15 more shots (66-51) than Mines, committing only four turnovers to the Orediggers' 15. 
- Mines held a 36-30 rebounding advantage.
- Freshman center Adam Krasovec made the start in his first career game, scoring three points - including Mines' first bucket of the season - with six rebounds and a block.

NEXT UP
Mines faces the tournament hosts #9 Lubbock Christian Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.