Mines vs. Kansas Wesleyan, Friday, 5 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
Mines vs. Haskell Indian Nations, Saturday, 5 p.m. [RMAC Network] [Live Stats]
 

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THE WEEKEND AHEAD
After two weeks on the road to start the season, Mines finally opens up at home as they host a post-Thanksgiving series with Kansas Wesleyan visiting Lockridge Arena on Friday and Haskell on Saturday. Both games will tip off at 5 p.m. as the backend of a doubleheader with Mines women's basketball playing a 3 p.m. game each day.

LAST WEEKEND
The Orediggers had a tough 0-2 weekend, falling in overtime 75-71 at Fort Hays State before losing 67-60 at Nebraska-Kearney. The Orediggers had all five starters score in double digits at FHSU led by Ben Sonnefeld's 17, but the Tigers forced overtime and went on to win. At UNK, Michael Glen had 13 points and seven rebounds but the Lopers used big runs in each half, keyed by an 11-0 spurt in the second, to take the lead and hold off Mines for the win.

EARLY STANDOUTS
Two players have shone early this season for Mines, and that's senior point guard Ben Sonnefeld and freshman 3 Brendan Sullivan. Sonnefeld picked up where he left off last year, averaging 14.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, and 4.0 apg, while Sullivan has had a fantastic start to his career averaging 13.5 ppg and 4.0 rpg while shooting .500 from the floor and for three, and .826 at the line. 

SERIES HISTORY
Mines and Kansas Wesleyan are meeting for the second time ever and first since 2009, when the Orediggers won 75-58 in a game played at Regis. Mines meets Haskell for the first time since the 2015-16 season when the Orediggers won 85-67. Ben Sonnefeld and Ben Clare are the only active Orediggers to have played in that game; Sonnefeld flirted with a triple-double scoring 10 points with eight rebounds and six assists in 29 minutes, while Clare saw four minutes of action off the bench as a freshman. 

MINES PICKED SECOND IN THE RMAC
The Orediggers were picked second in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll behind Regis. The Orediggers (22-9 in 2017-18) received 203 points and four first-place votes to sit second in the poll behind last year's RMAC Tournament winner Regis (216 points, 8 first) but ahead of defending regular-season champ Fort Lewis (199 points, 2 first) and new RMAC member Dixie State (185 points, 2 first), who won last year's PacWest regular-season and tournament titles.

LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will begin RMAC play on Dec. 1, visiting UCCS for a 7:30 p.m. game.