DENVER, Colo. – Trouble with fouls hamstrung the St. Mary's Men's Basketball game in the opening game of the 2022-23 season as they dropped the opener 87-65 at the South Central Regional Crossover against Colorado School of Mines on Friday evening.
 
The Rattlers (0-1) were whistled for 24 fouls and two starters were called for four, as well as the first player off the bench as senior Mamady Djikine (Paris, France), senior Ryan Leonard (Kerry, Ireland) and senior Emmanuel Ewuzie (San Antonio) were limited in minutes.
 
Ewuzie made the most of his 19 minutes, scoring a team-best 14 points 5-of-5 shooting from the field and he tied for the team lead in rebounds with six, including four on the offensive end of the floor. Djikine, junior guard Jalon Johnson (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) and junior guard Lovre Zaja (Zagreb, Croatia) tied Ewuzie with six boards as the Rattlers outrebounded the Orediggers (1-0) 37-36.
 
Senior transfer Edward Manuel (Lake Charles, La.) came off the bench to score 11 points, while senior guard Caleb Jordan (Midlothian, Texas) chipped in 10. 
 
Johnson led all players with six assists and managed a team-best two steals, while Ewuzie blocked three shots, bringing his career total to 57.
 
St. Mary's has a short turnaround, facing Regis at 6 p.m. (CST) on Saturday, while the Orediggers meet Lubbock Christian in the first game at 4 p.m.