RAPID CITY, S.D. – Despite 16 points from Zach McLemore and 13 rebounds from Max Mueller, the Black Hills State University men's basketball team fell 65-54 to South Dakota Mines Tuesday night in the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena.

The Yellow Jackets dominated the paint with 24 points but could not get timely shots to fall as the Green and Gold dropped its seventh-straight game of the season to fall to 5-14 overall and 2-11 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. South Dakota Mines claimed its fourth-straight win in the rivalry while improving to 10-9 on the season and 6-7 in the RMAC.

The two squads have a rematch February 11 with a 6 p.m. tipoff in the Young Center on the BHSU campus.

After Fraser Malcolm scored the opening basket, the Hardrockers opened an eight-point lead at 13-5 with 13:28 remaining in the first half until the Yellow Jackets were able to whittle the Hardrocker lead down to three points with 6:40 on the clock. The Yellow Jackets used a 7-2 run to cut into the Hardrocker lead highlighted by back-to-back Green and Gold layups off the hands of Jonas Anderson and Malcolm.

However, SD Mines quickly rebuilt its lead before entering halftime with an eight-point advantage at 27-19.

Over the first eight minutes of the second half, SD Mines built its lead up to 19 points. With 6:50 remaining in the game, Zach McLemore scored a 3-point basket followed by a layup from Anderson. Troy Whiteto of SD Mines and McLemore traded 3-point baskets before the Hardrockers rebuilt their lead to 17 points with 2:52 remaining.

Black Hills State then chiseled the SDSM&T lead down to the final margin of 11 points thanks to a five-point closeout with a long-range basket from Hoyt Nicholas and two free throws courtesy of Sam McCloud.

McLemore tallied a game-high 16 points as Malcolm scored 13 points for his eighth-straight game in double-digit points. Mueller tallied his third double-digit rebound performance of the season and seventh of his career with his game-high 13 boards.  

Preseason All-RMAC honoree Konor Kulas tallied a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Hardrockers while Jake Heath led the home squad with 14 points.

The Yellow Jackets play their final game of a four-game road trip Saturday at Westminster College. Tipoff in Salt Lake City, Utah, is slated for 7:30 p.m. Following the contest, Black Hills State plays five-straight games in the friendly confines of the Young Center beginning with Colorado Mesa on January 27.