SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team returns to action, Saturday, December 30, hosting Colorado State University-Pueblo. The game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m.

THE GAME - Colorado State University-Pueblo 
» The ThunderWolves won both meetings last season over the Yellow Jackets.
 
» CSU-Pueblo is currently tied for 10th in the RMAC standings, holding a 2-4 conference record. The team is 5-7 overall. Most recently the ThunderWolves defeated Western State (92-79) and Colorado Mesa (88-72).
 
» The team scores 81.7 points per game, led by Will Newman, who averages 17.2 ppg. Four other players average double-figure scoring. Donovan Oldham leads the squad in rebounding, pulling down 6.6 boards per game.
 
» The ThunderWolves were selected to finish sixth in the Preseason RMAC Coaches' Poll. Newman was named to the Preseason All-RMAC Team.
 
THE COACHES
» Jeff Trumbauer enters his fourth season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets. He has a 37-56 record at BHSU.

» Ralph Turner is in his seventh year coaching CSU-Pueblo, holding a 99-70 record. Prior to coming to Pueblo, Turner was a NAIA National Coach of the Year at Union (Tenn.) University.

Last Time Out
The Yellow Jackets swept a pair of RMAC games on December 15 and 16 before the holiday break. BHSU came back to edge Regis, 75-74, on Friday, before defeating Chadron State, 76-63, on Saturday.

The Green and Gold trailed by as many as 21 in the game against Regis, but clawed back to earn the victory, capitalizing on four late free throws by Makaleb McInnis. Fraser Malcolm had a double-double, scoring 17 and recording 10 rebounds. Dez Stoudamire added 17 points, and McInnis had 11.

In the matchup against Chadron State, Malcolm scored 21 points to lead the Yellow Jackets, while McInnis had 14, and Patrick Mendes added 13.

Pull it down
Stefan Desnica grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds against Colorado Christian (Dec. 9), while Fraser Malcolm is third in the RMAC in offensive rebounds (2.9), and fourth in rebounding (7.8). The Yellow Jackets are fourth in the league in offensive rebounding (10.6).
 
South Dakota hold 'em
BHSU leads the RMAC and is 32nd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 67.4 points per game.
 
Take care of the ball
The Green and Gold's +1.00 turnover margin is good for fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
 
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 12.0 ppg, while junior transfer Dez Stoudamire also averages double-figure scoring (10.8 ppg).
 
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 6-1 at home, and 0-3 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.