Boxscore

DENVER - The Northwest Nazarene University men's basketball team opened 2010 by shooting 67-percent from the field in earning an 82-80 victory over Colorado School of Mines at the Metro/Mines Classic on Friday afternoon at the Auraria Events Center on the Metro State University campus.

 

The Crusaders, now 8-2 overall, finished the game 33-of-49 from the floor, including a scorching 16-of-20 in the second half against the NCAA D.II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference member Orediggers. 

 

"This is a good road win for us," commented NNU associate head coach Brandon Rinta.  "Louie (Beech) really ignited us offensively in the first half and got everyone else going.  Tonight shows what our guards are capable of...and to do it on the road was great."

 

Beech scored 14 of his 19 points in the first half and led the Crusaders from long-range, going five-of-six from the three-point line. 

 

Drew Eisinger led the Crusaders in scoring with a game-high 21, while Brian Barkdoll and Anthony Golden each scored 12 and Kendall Gielow added 10.

 

Dale Minschwaner led Colorado School of Mines (4-6) with 18 points, Drew Hoffman scored 17 and Sean Armstrong had 16.  Gordon Galloway added 11 and Levi Hamilton led the Orediggers on the glass with a game-high nine rebounds.

 

CSM also shot the ball well at 49-percent (26-53) from the floor and 46-percent (7-15) from the arc.  The teams were even on the glass at 26 to 26.

 

The Crusaders will now face Metro State University tomorrow night at 5:00 p.m. in Golden, Colo., on the Colorado School of Mines campus.