MINES’ DREAM SEASON ENDS IN ELITE EIGHT

As Colorado School of Mines prepared for its NCAA Division II Elite Eight showdown against Bellarmine, Orediggers coach Pryor Orser knew their opponent was a lot like his own team, one built on old-school passing principles and defensive sweat equity.

The No. 2 Knights (32-3) backed up Orser’s assertion Wednesday, using a combination of disciplined passing and shutdown defense to cruise by the No. 11 Orediggers 92-72 in Sioux Falls, S.D., and end a remarkable season for Mines (30-5), which set a program record for wins and qualified for its first Elite 8.

Mines was led by 18 points from redshirt junior guard Luke Schroepfer.

HIGHLIGHTS

Justin James scored 16 points and Wyoming scored the last six points of the game to defeat Utah Valley 74-68 in the semifinals of the College Basketball Invitational.

The Cowboys (21-14) play Coastal Carolina in the three-game CBI championship series with the first game on the road Monday and the second back in Laramie on Wednesday. Tatum declares for draft. Jayson Tatum is leaving Duke after his freshman season to enter the NBA draft. … Kentucky signed John Calipari and Mark Stoops to two-year contract extensions, keeping Calipari as its men’s basketball coach through 2024 and Stoops with the football program through 2022.

Buffs ready to meet Iowa in WNIT

It shouldn’t take long for Colorado junior Zoe Correal to get motivated for Thursday’ matchup at Iowa in the Women’s NIT.

Correal, a 6-foot-4 junior center, will face one of her toughest tests of the season when the Buffaloes (17-15) head to Iowa City for a Sweet 16 matchup against the Hawkeyes (19-13).

Iowa is led by sophomore center Megan Gustafson, who averages 18.7 points and 10.0 rebounds and hits a remarkable 64.9 percent of her shots. The 6-foot-3 Gustafson is one of the highest-scoring post players in the country and ranks fifth nationally in field-goal percentage.

“I’m excited,” Correal said. “I’m always excited to play a good post player. It’s a good test for me.”

Correal is averaging 4.4 points and 4.3 rebounds.