DENVER – In their final home game of the season Thursday evening, the MSU Denver Roadrunners delivered one of their most complete offensive performances of the year, rolling past Colorado School of Mines 85-65 at the Auraria Events Center.
With the win, MSU Denver improves to 15-12 overall and 13-6 in RMAC play, extending its winning streak to six games. The 13 conference victories tie the program's most since the 2022-23 season, and the Roadrunners will have a chance to reach 14 in Saturday's regular-season finale at Regis.
After a tight opening quarter that saw six ties and four lead changes, the Roadrunners found their rhythm in the second period and never looked back.
Trailing 17-14 after one, MSU Denver exploded for 30 points in the second quarter, shooting a blistering 11-of-16 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from beyond the arc in the frame. That stretch turned a three-point deficit into a 44-31 halftime advantage.
Brooklynn Jones ignited the run with back-to-back triples midway through the quarter, then added a fastbreak layup to push the margin. Her shooting display was historic.
Jones finished with a team-high 23 points, one shy of her career high, drilling 7-of-8 from three-point range. Her seven made triples were the most by a Roadrunner since the 2023-24 season, when current teammate Mikylah Espinosa hit seven in a game.
Jones added three steals in an all-around standout performance off the bench.
MSU Denver knocked down 15 three-pointers — the second-most this season — finishing 15-of-26 (57.7 percent) from deep. The only higher total came in the record-setting 16-three performance earlier this year against Manhattan Christian.
Jadyn Watts poured in 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting, her highest scoring output since Dec. 18 against Lubbock Christian. She consistently finished in the paint and helped steady the offense during key stretches.
Madi Johnson added 11 points, connecting on 3-of-4 from long range, while Espinosa orchestrated the offense with a team-high nine assists — the most by a Roadrunner since she had 10 against Fort Lewis in December. Espinosa also chipped in 10 points and four steals, impacting both ends of the floor.
Defensively, reigning RMAC Defensive Player of the Week Keira Mitchell controlled the glass with a team-high 10 rebounds, while adding seven points, three steals and a block. Her interior presence helped MSU Denver limit Mines to 34.3 percent shooting.
The Roadrunners also dominated the paint (34 points) and held a 37-14 advantage in bench scoring, showcasing their depth in the home finale.
MSU Denver pushed its lead to as many as 30 in the third quarter after another Jones three-pointer capped a dominant stretch.
Though Mines trimmed the deficit slightly in the fourth, the outcome was never in doubt as the Roadrunners secured their sixth straight victory.
Heading into Saturday's road matchup at Regis University (1 p.m.), MSU Denver sits in sixth place in the RMAC standings — but just one game separates the teams ranked No. 2 through No. 6.
With momentum on their side and postseason positioning still at stake, the Roadrunners will look to close the regular season on a high note.
