Feb. 22, 2008

Box Score

DENVER, COLO. - Terrell Burgess hit the go-ahead layup with 1:10 left in the game to help Metro State defeat Colorado School of Mines, 66-64, in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's basketball game, Friday evening at the Auraria Events Center.

The Orediggers led by as many as 10 in the second half, 44-34, with 12:36 to play, but for the second game in a row, Metro State staged a late comeback. It was still a three-point Oredigger lead, 62-59, with two minutes remaining but Marquise Carrington stole the ball, then the Orediggers were called for the intentional foul on the breakaway layup attempt. Carrington hit both free throws, then Metro State got the ball back and Jesse Wagstaff hit a layup to complete the four-point play and give the Roadrunners the lead, 63-62 with 1:29 left.

The Orediggers had the ball down by one with 10 seconds left but Drew Hoffman missed a three. Then after Metro State made 1-for-2 from the line, Mines again had the ball with less than a second left but could not get a tip away at the buzzer.

Burgess scored 19 points and added six rebounds, while Guiseppe Ciancio scored 16 points, including four treys, and Lawrence Billings pulled down eight rebounds for Metro State. Four players scored in double figures for Colorado School of Mines, led by Kyle Pape and Casey O'Hayre with 12 points apiece.

The Orediggers shot 56 percent in the second half, and had just 14 turnovers in the game, but the Roadrunners held a 35-27 advantage on the boards and made eight more free throws.

Metro State had a horrendous start to the game, scoring just six points in almost 10 minutes, including 2-for-11 from the field with six turnovers as Mines got off to a 14-6 advantage. However, the Roadrunners scored 12 straight points to take an 18-14 lead, then settled for a 28-27 halftime advantage. Pape had eight of his points in the first half for the Orediggers, while Metro State shot just 37 percent in the opening period.

Metro State has now won six straight games overall.

With the win, Metro State improves to 19-11 overall, 12-7 in the RMAC, while Colorado School of Mines falls to 14-14, 7-11 in the RMAC. The Roadrunners now await word on seeding for next week's RMAC Tournament.