DENVER – There's something to be said for an infusion of new talent.
 
There's also something to be said for returning old talent.
 
And Colorado School of Mines, ranked Nos. 13 and 24 in NCAA Division II, showed what an experienced group can do Saturday in cruising to an 82-48 season-opening victory over Metropolitan State University of Denver at the Auraria Event Center.
 
"We played a very experienced team who returned a lot guys who have been in their program for three or four years," MSU Denver coach Michael Bahl said. "We have a brand-new team with very little experience, and it showed.

"I love my team and our youth, and we are only going to get better. I'm excited to get back to practice on Monday and get better, and I know our players are just as excited."
 
Mines, picked to win the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference this season after finishing one game off the pace last year at 16-6 in league play, returns all five starters, its top eight scorers and several others who redshirted last season.
 
MSU Denver has one returning starter, two other backups, and 11 new players ranging from senior transfers to true freshmen.
 
Still, it was 15-15 after a conventional three-point play by the Roadrunners' Laolu Oke at the 12:53 mark of the first half, and Tonje Durham's layup got MSU Denver within 19-17 with just under 10 minutes left in the opening frame.
 
But the Orediggers went on an 18-4 run over the next seven minutes to essentially put the game away.
 
Reggie Gibson provided some second-half spark for the Roadrunners, getting all 11 of his points after the break.