SPEARFISH, S.D. – After shutting down the Rocky Mountain Preseason Player of the Year, the Black Hills State University men's basketball team snapped a six-game losing streak defeating Colorado Mesa 88-77 Friday night in the Young Center.

Nick Ongarato scored 25 points while Riley Ryan added 18 points as the Yellow Jackets shot 51.9 percent (27-of-52) from the field including a season-best 18-made 3-point baskets.

Ryan Stephan, the RMAC's Preseason Player of the Year and a reigning All-American, was held to 13 points, more than 13 points below his season average and RMAC leading 26.3 points per game.

From the get-go it was all Yellow Jackets, leading all 40 minutes of the contest, including building a 10-point lead with 7:13 remaining in the game. That happened with Patrick Mendes hit Riley Ryan for an open 3-point basket and the 26-16 lead.

That lead ballooned to 16 points when Tate Hilgenkamp sank a trey of his own for a 34-18 lead with 4:47 remaining in the first stanza.

The largest lead in the half came when Fraser Malcom sank a 3-point basket with 1:40 remaining in the first stanza and a 44-24 lead, before the Yellow Jackets entered intermission with a 44-28 advantage.

Although Black Hills State (10-12, 8-10 RMAC) led the entire contest, it wasn't without drama as the Mavericks (16-8, 12-6 RMAC) cut into the deficit multiple times but couldn't break the seven-point barrier. The closest CMU got was within seven points at 82-75 with 47 seconds remaining in the game.

Along with Ongarato's 25 points, he grabbed six rebounds while Riley Ryan grabbed a team-high seven rebounds. Patrick Mendes added 13 points with Wyatt Krogman contributing 12. The Mavericks were led by Kabir West with 23 points and 10 rebounds while Eimer Lopez scored 17 while Stephan, who averages a double-double grabbed seven rebounds.

The Yellow Jackets close out the home portion of the 2015-16 season Saturday in a Round Ball Reunion complete with Purple and Gold uniforms. Tipoff against the first-ever visit to Spearfish from Westminster College is slated for 7:30 p.m.