SPEARFISH, S.D. – In an overtime thriller, the Black Hills State University men's basketball team came up on the short end to Northern State University 82-76 Saturday in the Yellow Jackets home debut.

The Green and Gold fell behind by as many as 15 points in the first half but maneuvered themselves to its first lead of the game in the opening minutes of the second half when Zach McLemore drained a 3-point basket to give the Yellow Jackets a 38-36 lead.

Black Hills State (0-3, 0-0 RMAC) continued to push the envelope and take a five-point lead after Sam McCloud sank a trey of his own for a 45-40 lead with 16:05 remaining in the game. From there the lead bounced back-and-forth several times, including the final minutes. Black Hills State held a four-point lead with 2:42 remaining as McLemore hit three-more of his game-high 26 points.

However, the Wolves fought back and knotted the game at 71-71, then took a two-point lead with 37 second remaining in the game. McLemore was fouled on a drive to the basket and hit one-of-two free throws to pull the gap to just one point with 22 seconds on the game clock.

Mack Arvidson, who led Northern State (3-2, 0-0 NSIC) with 23 points, hit a pair of free throws to extend the Wolves lead with 19 seconds left. After a time out, McLemore was set up with a 3-point basket again, this time with 14 seconds left and essentially force overtime after the Yellow Jacket defense forced an errant NSU shot to win the game.

Black Hills State took the initial lead in the extra period when Wyatt Krogman hit a free throw for the first point of the period with 3:09 remaining. From there both offenses continued to have issues executing until the Wolves scored their first points of the overtime period with 40 seconds left, a Gabe King long-range basket.

Northern State continued to score points, but all came off of free throws as they went 4-of-7 down the stretch for the 82-76 victory.

The Yellow Jackets were led by McLemore with his game-high 26 points, the first time the junior-transfer has scored 20-plus points in a Green and Gold uniform. Krogman added 14 points and five assists while Fraser Malcolm secured his second double-double of the season with 12 rebounds and 10 points. McCloud played arguably his best-game of his young career with 25 minutes, eight points and five rebounds.

Black Hills State shot 35.3 percent from the field as Northern State shot 44.6 percent on field goals.

The Wolves were led by Mack Arvidson with 23 points while Logan Doyle scored 18 points and grabbed 18 rebounds.

Black Hills State looks to get on the winning track on Wednesday with a 7 p.m. tipoff against Yellowstone Christian College. In the game, all fans will receive free admittance with a nonperishable food donation for the Spearfish Community Food Pantry.