RAPID CITY, S.D. – On a night when Tyrei Randall surpassed 1,000 points as a collegiate player, he and his MSU Denver teammates defeated South Dakota Mines 75-63 for a key road victory Friday.
 
MSU Denver's third road win of the season came as six players scored in double figures, led by Randall with 15.
 
The Roadrunners outscored South Dakota Mines only 40-27 in the second half, but the statistical difference was staggering – MSU Denver shot 71.4 percent from the field (15 of 21) to the Hardrockers' 38.7 percent (12 of 31), made 5 of 10 for 50 percent from 3-point range compared to South Dakota Mines' 21.4 percent (3 of 14) and didn't allow the Hardrockers even one free throw attempt while making 5 of 7 in the final 20 minutes.
 
"The defensive effort in the second half, and even the second half of the first half, really changed game for us," MSU Denver coach Dan Ficke said. "We let them get going early, but then we got locked in and really guarded. We wanted to take away the 3-pointer and guard without fouling, which we did, and I'm extremely proud of the effort and execution.
 
"And the second half was a complete half – 71.4 percent from the field and 50 percent on 3s. That was phenomenal execution."
 
The Roadrunners, 9-12 overall, improved to 6-9 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. While only tied for 10th in the league, MSU Denver is one game behind the two teams who are tied for seventh and 1 ½ games behind sixth-place Westminster (8-8). The top eight teams advance to the RMAC Tournament.
 
Randall, who scored 159 points in two seasons at Division I Rider, reached 1,000 on a driving layup with 14:02 left in the game, tying the score 48-48. He now has 1,005.
 
"I talked to him at halftime because I thought he might've been pressing a little bit," Ficke said. "I told him to just go compete and the points will come – you're going to hit it tonight. I think he took his mind off it and played free, and he took good shots and had another high percentage shooting night (6 of 9 overall and 2 of 3 from 3).
 
"We're playing our best right now because he's playing his best."
 
The Roadrunners began taking over shortly after Randall got his 1,000^th, as Jaden Kennis and Randall hit back-to-back 3-pointers, starting a 19-6 run that turned a 51-48 deficit into a 67-57 lead with 6:43 to go. During the burst, MSU Denver was 4-for-4 from 3-point range and 7 of 8 from the field overall.
 
Caleb McGill was dominant in the second half while finishing with 14 points and six rebounds, Quave Propst-Allison had 12 points and Skylar Robinson – whose 3 capped the decisive run – added 11 points and five rebounds in only 10 minutes of action. Robinson hadn't scored more than five points in a game this season.
 
"Caleb is starting to come back after some illness, and Quave really anchored us with his energy on defense and his pace on offense – he got us out of a slow-paced game that I think South Dakota Mines wanted to play," Ficke said. "And Skylar gave us great minutes. He's playing within himself and he took great shots, rebounded the ball and played with great effort."
 
Rounding out the double-figure scorers were Kennis and Brayden Maldonado, with 10 each.
 
The Roadrunners have a supreme test ahead of them Saturday, as they travel to face Division II No. 3 Black Hills State in a 6 p.m. game.
 
"This is when we wanted to be at our best, and we're right on the cusp of it," Ficke said. "We've got to keep going and keep believing in ourselves. As soon as we get to the hotel (late Friday night), this one is over and the focus is on Black Hills, because if we can steal one there it would be huge.
 
"I love our momentum right now."