GOLDEN, Colo. – The Westminster men's basketball team couldn't overcome a poor shooting first half and lost to No. 24 Colorado School of Mines, 67-50, on Saturday night in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play.
 
Westminster (7-2, 3-2 RMAC) only scored 17 points in the first half as they shot just 29.4 percent in the period. Colorado Mines (8-3, 3-2) had a 15-2 run in the half to open a 21-6 lead with 7:37 to play in the period. They had the lead to 19 before Casey Evans made a 3-points in the final minute to send the game to halftime at 33-17.
 
The lead remained in double figures for the entire second half with the Griffins only getting within 33-23 at the 17:29 mark. Mines put the game away with a 12-2 run that ended with them in front 49-27 with just over 11 minutes to play.
 
The Griffins finished the night shooting 36.4 percent from the field with 13 assists on 20 made baskets. They were 7 of 17 (41.2 percent) from beyond the arc and they grabbed 34 rebounds – 13 offensive – with 13 turnovers. Mines shot 40.8 percent and were 18 of 22 at the line while the Griffins finished 3 of 4.
 
Kenny Woodard led the Griffins in scoring for the second straight night with 12 points off the bench. He made 4 of 10 shots with a pair of 3 pointers. Evans scored 10 points with three assists, one blocked shot and one steal. Brandon Warr led the team with seven rebounds.
 
Mines got 18 points from Gokul Natesan and 16 points and eight rebounds off the bench from Caleb Waitsman.
 
Westminster is now off for 13 days when they host Black Hills State on January 1 in the Behnken Field House at 7:30 p.m.