Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The 2nd-ranked Colorado School of Mines men's basketball team had four score in double digits and finished on a 30-13 run to beat Nebraska-Kearney, 82-62, in an RMAC Tournament semifinal game Friday afternoon in Pueblo, Colo.

The Orediggers (26-2), in search of its' first-ever RMAC tourney title, advanced to Saturday afternoon's championship game against either Colorado Mesa or Fort Lewis.

The Lopers end the year at 16-12 and finish its RMAC era with a 261-103 record (RMAC regular season and RMAC tourney games combined).

UNK came back from a 35-24 first half deficit to tie things at 43 with 14:29 to play. This 19-8 Loper run featured seven points from both senior Max Froehlich (Pierce) and freshman Tyler Shields (Kearney H.S.).

However, Mines never let the Lopers move ahead and then sunk four of its nine three pointers in the final 7:45 to blow open what was a 52-49 game.

Against a very tall Oredigger squad that leads the RMAC in rebounding with a plus eight margin, UNK easily won the battle on the glass, 37-28. That included 14 offensive caroms, which led to 15 second chance points for the Lopers.

UNK had a plus rebounding margin in its last 10 games, including a double digit advantage five times.

Mines managed to combat a rare bad day on the glass by forcing 16 Loper turnovers, which led to 21 points. Eleven of those points came on the fast break as the 'Diggers turned eight blocks and seven steals into several layups and dunks.

Individually, three Loper starters were in double digits, led by Shields with 14. Working around some early foul trouble, he finished 4 of 7 from the field and also added six rebounds.

In his final collegiate game, Froehlich had 12 points and three rebounds before fouling out with fellow senior Chris Deans (Hemingford) picking up five fouls as well but not before supplying six rebounds.

Finally, freshman post Ethan Brozek (Norfolk) had his second straight double double (12 points & 11 rebounds) and junior reserve post Drew Sankey (Lincoln East) had eight points and four boards in 14 minutes.

For Mines, 6-6 sophomore forward Luke Meisch came off the bench to score a team-high 18 points on 6 of 10 field goal shooting and a 5 of 5 effort at the line. Redshirt freshman guard Brian Muller also had a big day off the pine, making three treys to finish with 13 points and three rebounds.

Among 'Digger starters, senior post Dale Minschwaner had 16 points, five blocks, four assists and four rebounds and redshirt freshman guard Trevor Ritchie had 16 points, five assists and three steals.

Besides Deans and Froehlich, other Loper seniors are forwards Beau Baker (Denver, Colo.) and Ben Klein (Plainview) and point guard Quinston Reggins (Houston, Texas).