SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team opens Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play this weekend, hosting UCCS and MSU Denver. The Yellow Jackets welcome the Mountain Lions on Friday, December 1, before playing the Roadrunners on Saturday, December 2.

THE GAME - UCCS
 
» The Mountain Lions most recently defeated Northern New Mexico, 98-73. Prior to that, UCCS fell to CSU-Pueblo and Nebraska-Kearney.
 
» UCCS averages 88.2 points per game, led by Justin Smith, who scores 14.8 ppg. Three other players average in double-figures.
 
» The Mountain Lions were selected to finish seventh in the RMAC preseason coaches' poll.
 
» UCCS defeated BHSU in both games last season, after splitting the series the year before.
 
THE GAME - MSU Denver
 
» The Roadrunners most recently defeated the University of North Georgia for their first win of the season.
 
» The team averages 73.0 ppg, led by Cameron Williams, who scores 19.5 points per game. Four other Roadrunners average double-figure scoring.
 
» MSU Denver was selected to finish fifth in the preseason coaches' poll.
 
» The Yellow Jackets and Roadrunners have played 10 times, with MSU Denver winning every matchup.
 
THE COACHES
 
» Jeff Trumbauer enters his fourth season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets. He has a 34-53 record at BHSU.
 
» Jeff Culver is the coach of the Mountain Lions. He is in his sixth season at the helm of UCCS.     
 
» Michael Bahl is in his first season as head coach of the Roadrunners after spending seven seasons as an assistant coach for the program.
 
Last Time Out
Most recently, the Yellow Jackets fell in an exhibition game to Division I Weber State, 105-52. Fraser Malcolm finished with 14 points, while Makaleb McInnis had seven rebounds.
Prior to that, Black Hills State suffered its first loss of the season in Aberdeen, S.D., when they traveled to Northern State. The Yellow Jackets went down 10-0 at the beginning of the game, trailed, 43-20, at halftime, and ultimately fell, 68-46.
Fraser Malcolm led the Green and Gold with seven points and 10 rebounds. Dez Stoudamire had eight points, and Stefan Desnica pulled down seven boards.

99 Problems, But a win ain't one
The Yellow Jackets scored 99 points against Yellowstone Christian (Nov. 11). This was the most points scored by BHSU since they scored 101 in an overtime loss to Colorado Christian in 2013 (Dec. 14).

Share the rock
BHSU has begun the season averaging 12.0 assists though four games. The 18 assists against Yellowstone Christian (Nov. 11) are the most in a single game since the Yellow Jackets had 19 in an 84-59 victory over Regis in 2015 (Dec. 12).

Settling in
Some of the new players on the Yellow Jackets this season are already making a large impact. Junior transfer Mckaleb McInnis is second on the team in scoring, with 12.7 ppg, while junior transfer Dez Stoudamire has earned a starting role on the squad. Freshman Jackson Ehrlin averages 4.3 rebounds per game.

Home Sweet home
Black Hills State's record last season was starkly different at home and on the road. The team did not win a road game until Feb. 18. The Yellow Jackets were 7-8 at home, but just 2-11 away from the Young Center. So far this year, BHSU is 3-0 at home, and 0-1 on the road.

Malcolm in the Lead
Fraser Malcolm returns to the Yellow Jackets for his junior campaign after leading the squad with 14.0 points per game last season. He played 30.5 minutes per game, and earned All-RMAC Honorable Mention following the season.

Putting Up Numbers
Returning starters with Malcolm are Zach McLemore and Patrick Mendes. McLemore was second on the squad in scoring, with 11.5 ppg. Mendes averaged 9.5 ppg and 2.7 rpg.

New Blood
Despite returning eight players with playing time from last year, there will be a large group of newcomers to the Yellow Jackets. Three transfers will fight for playing time, while two freshman join the squad. Dez Stoudamire, Makaleb McInnis, and Jacob Perkins all come to BHSU from community colleges, while Jackson Ehrlin and Trey Winkler join up after their prep careers.

BHSU Picked 11th by RMAC Coaches
Black Hills State was tabbed 11th in the RMAC Coaches' Poll with 59 points. Fort Lewis was voted to finish first, with 183 points, while Colorado Mines (178), and Regis (177), were selected to finish second and third, respectively.
  Black Hills State is located in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota, sponsoring 13 NCAA sports with membership in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the NCAA emerging sport of women's triathlon and NIRA rodeo. For all information regarding Yellow Jacket Athletics, please visit BHSUAthletics.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @BHSUAthletics.