Men’s team loses 2 in Colorado

The men’s basketball team is still searching for its first win of the season after losing to No. 19 Colorado School of Mines, Golden, and Colorado Christian University, Lakewood.
The Eagles scored the first five points of the game against the Orediggers, but quickly saw the lead vanish as CSM scored 13 straight, taking the lead and pushed forward en route to a 78-66 victory over CSC.
The RMAC Preseason Co-Player of the Year, Gokul Natesan, senior of Santa Clara, California, led the Orediggers with 25 points. Natesan also came away with four assists and two steals. Caleb Waitsman, senior of Fayetteville, Arkansas, added 23 points in 26 minutes, while grabbing nine rebounds.
For the Eagles, Darius Polley, junior of Amarillo, Texas, kept pace with Natesan, scoring 25, shooting 70 percent from the field including four 3-pointers. Bronte Corbray, junior of Seattle, chipped in 10 points and freshman Michael Johnson, of Nassau, Bahamas, tallied nine.
As a team the Eagles shot 42.9 percent from the field, but only 26.9 percent from long range. The Orediggers shot 52 percent, but also struggled from deep, shooting 27.3 percent.
The Cougars of Colorado Christian made more than half of their shots, averaging 54.5 percent, including 9 of 21 3-pointers. CSC improved from the previous night from long range, shooting 43.5 percent.
Polley, Corbray, and Warren Gordon, senior of Indianapolis, each scored 12 points. Myles Busby, senior of Niles, Michigan, added seven to go along with six rebounds.
For the Cougars, Brett Brady, senior of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, only missed two shots, finishing with 31 points, 18 from behind the 3-point line.
The Eagles (0-6, 0-2), are back at home this weekend, playing the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Friday, and Metropolitan State University of Denver, Saturday. Both teams are 2-0 in RMAC play. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 both nights, following the women’s game.