Kearney, Neb. - The 18th-ranked Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team used a 21-0 first half run to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 82-66, Tuesday night in an RMAC Tournament first round game in Golden, Colo.

The Orediggers improve to 23-4 while the Lopers see a five-game win streak come to an end and finish the 2010-11 season at 13-14.

UNK, which lost all three meetings with Mines this year, came out strong early, leading 24-17 by the 8:05 mark of the first half. Junior wing Max Froehlich (Pierce) scored nine of his 11 points during this stretch with three others providing four points a piece.

Mines quickly changed the momentum, however, by scoring the game's next 21 points. The big run covered six minutes and saw UNK miss all 11 field goals it took with five of those shots being blocked. A much taller Mines team had nine of its 12 blocks in the first half.

The Orediggers eventually went into the locker up 45-31 and held a double digit lead the entire second half.

The Lopers did cut the deficit to 12 points on three separate occasions in the second half but Mines had an answer each time. After senior post Michael McLeod (Brownlee) hit a three to make it a 61-49 game, the Orediggers scored the next six points to lead by 18 again.

On the night,, Mines out rebounded UNK 50-34, including an 18-10 mark on the offensive glass. That led to 14 second chance points for the 'Diggers.

Scoring 36 points in the paint, Mines was led 6-3 senior wing Drew Hoffman, who scored 17 of his game-high 23 points in the first half. All three of his three point baskets came during the 21-0 run.

The starting backcourt of Brett Green (13) and Sean Armstrong (11) also reached double digits with the pair combining for 11 assists, five rebounds and four steals as well.

Finally, 6-6 junior post Dale Minschwaner had 12 rebounds, nine points and three blocks with 6-8 freshman reserve Trevor Wages having a game-high 15 boards, six points and three stuffs.

Sophomore post Drew Sankey (Lincoln East) led UNK with 14 points on 7 of 9 field goal shooting. This marked the fourth time this year he reached double digits. Besides Froehlich, freshman guard Tim Billingsly (Parker, Colo.) had 12 points and three assists.

UNK had one other senior on this year's team in forward Ben Klein (Plainview).