RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota School of Mines Hardrockers built a big early lead and picked up their first win in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference this season.

The Hardrocks downed Adams State 70-58 Dec. 11 at Goodell Gymnasium at the King Center. SDSM is 3-6 overall. ASU falls to 6-4, 2-2 in conference play.

ASU's Nykolas Lange scored a team-high 16 points (four off his career high), including four from 3-point range. Malik Moore scored 13 points. Hayden Meaks added 13. Alejandro Rama had 23 points to top SDSM's scoresheet. Markel Allums had 13, and Kolten Mortensen had 11 points , 12 rebounds and three blocked shots. Kolton Frugoli scored 10, and Brevin Walter added eight.

Adams State couldn't buy a basket in the first half. The Grizzlies made just 31 percent of their shots from the floor. SDSM rode a strong, first-half shooting and rebounding effort to a 12-point lead at the break. The Hardrockers made 48 percent of their field goals and outrebounded the Grizzlies 21-16 over the first 20 minutes of play. 

Adams State opened the second half with a rally. Cody Frederickson's 3-pointer, a basket from Kaelin Crane and Lange's 3-pointer cut the Hardrockers' lead to five points with 12 minutes left in the game. But Rama nailed a pair of 3-pointers to start a 10-2 spurt to give the Hardrockers some breathing room.

ASU made 34 percent of its field goals and just 29 percent from beyond the 3-point line. SDSM made 47 percent of its field-goal tries and 46 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. SDSM outrebounded Adams State 34-29. Moore led ASU with nine rebounds.

Adams State tries to get back on the winning side of the ledger when the Grizzlies visit Colorado Mesa University at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17.