SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team could not withstand the late charge of South Dakota Mines in a 78-73 setback in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener for both teams Thursday night.

The Yellow Jackets received a career-best 26 points from Nick Ongarato while Riley Ryan and Tate Hilgenkamp each supplied 12 apiece. However it was 22 points from Jaisen Jackson and 21 points from Konor Kulas that stung the Green and Gold.

After holding a two-point lead at halftime, the Yellow Jackets opened a 13-point lead behind an 8-0 run. With the scored at 54-49 with 12:48 remaining, Erlendur Stefansson hit one-of-two free throws then Riley Ryan hit a 3-point basket.

After forcing the Hardrockers into a tough basket, Ryan hit a jumper in the paint followed by another trey to open a 62-49 lead.

With 7:08 remaining in the game, SD Mines knotted the game 64-all, and took the lead on a Brian Orr layup.

The Yellow Jackets (1-3, 0-1 RMAC) tied the game on an Ongarato trey with 3:01 remaining but the Hardrockers (3-2, 1-0 RMAC) quickly answered moments later with a 3-point basket from Marco Pascolo. That was the final lead SD Mines needed and opened a 78-71 lead with 24 seconds remaining.

An Ongarato layup pulled the Yellow Jackets within five points at 78-73, the final score.  

Black Hills State again out-rebounded its opponent, a trend it has done all season, 39-32. The Hardrockers held the edge in shooting 52.7 percent from the field while the Green and Gold hit 44.4 percent from the field.

The Yellow Jackets play its final nonconference game of the season Friday night when they host Trinity Bible College at 7:30 p.m. in the Donald E. Young Center.