DENVER – South Dakota Mines used a 17-6 first half run to build a 34-19 lead and MSU Denver never recovered Friday night.
 
After leading 46-25 at halftime, the Hardrockers went on for an 80-51 victory at the Auraria Event Center.
 
"That's 100 percent on me," Metropolitan State University of Denver coach Michael Bahl said. "I didn't have these guys ready. These guys aren't trying to lose games. It's my job to have us prepared, and we were not prepared. That's all on the coaches, not the players."
 
Maris Colton led MSU Denver with 14 points and added five rebounds, a team-high three assists and one block and one steal. Mitch Lombard added nine points, two assists and two steals. Laolu Oke had a team-high eight rebounds.
 
Mitchell Sueker led South Dakota Mines (9-9 overall, 7-7 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) with 15 points. The Hardrockers made 13 of 28 from 3-point range for 46.7 percent. They shot 50.8 percent overall.

MSU Denver (10-10, 6-8) is back in action Saturday at home against Black Hills State in a 7 p.m. contest.
 
"We can always bounce back tomorrow," Bahl said.