SPEARFISH, S.D. – A career night from Patrick Mendes along with four Yellow Jackets in double figures boosted Black Hills State University men's basketball to an 82-55 victory over Chadron State Saturday.
Mendes tallied a career-best 19 points while grabbing six rebounds and dishing four assists to lead the way while Max Mueller nearly tallied a double-double with 14 points and nine rebounds. Fraser Malcolm also scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds with Zach McLemore scoring 12 points.
Mendes gave the Yellow Jackets a 3-0 lead in the opening seconds before the Eagles Bronte Corbray countered with a trey of his own moments later. Mendes then scored on a layup to give the Yellow Jackets a 5-3 lead. The Green and Gold would not have a tie or fall behind the remainder of the game.
Holding a 21-17 lead with 8:22 remaining in the first stanza, the Yellow Jackets went on an 11-2 run thanks to a trey and jumper from Mendes, layup from Stefan Desnica, Mendes dunk and Malcolm jumper to give the Green and Gold a 13-point lead at 32-19.
Black Hills State, who improves to 5-7 overall and 2-4 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, entered the intermission with a 38-25.
The second half saw the Yellow Jacket lead balloon to as many as 35 points thanks to a 15-2 run that ended with a 3-point basket from the hands of LD Thomas with 2:31 remaining in the game.
The Yellow Jacket defense held the Eagles' leading scorer, Warren Gordon to a season-low six points with Michael Johnson leading CSC with 17 points.
Black Hills State shot a season-best 57.4 percent from the field on 31-of-54 shots while sinking a season-best 12 3-point baskets. The Yellow Jackets took advantage of the paint, scoring 32 points between the lane lines along with a season-best 18 assists.
The Yellow Jackets also saw major success on the boards, outrebounding the visitors 39-25 led by Mueller's nine boards and Malcolm's seven along.
The Yellow Jackets, who have won all four games at home, travel to Colorado State University – Pueblo on December 30 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff followed by a game at Colorado Christian on New Year's Eve at 5 p.m.
