SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team is set to host a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games this weekend to begin a four-game homestand. The Yellow Jackets welcome No. 21 Fort Lewis on Friday, January 12, before hosting Adams State on Saturday, January 13.

Saturday night will be a pink out game in honor of Kenadi Jean Weis. Yellow Jacket fans can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets, pink Frisbees to throw at halftime of the men's game, and participate in a Silent Auction. All proceeds will go towards the Kenadi Jean Weis Memorial Scholarship.

THE GAME - Fort Lewis College
» The Skyhawks and Yellow Jackets met once last year, with Fort Lewis taking the game at home, 66-48.
 
» Fort Lewis is currently first in the RMAC, having only lost to Westminster in conference play. FLC is ranked No. 21 in the NABC Poll this week.
 
» The team scores an RMAC-leading 90.4 ppg, led by Preseason Player of the Year, Rasmus Bach, who averages 15.5 points per game. Marquel Beasley leads the squad in rebounding, with 7.2 rpg, while Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Brandon Wilson, pulls down 7.1 boards per game.
 
THE GAME - Adams State University
» In the two teams' sole meeting last year, Adams State narrowly edged BHSU, 75-73.
 
» Adams State is currently one game ahead of BHSU in the RMAC standings, holding a 6-4 conference record.
 
» The Grizzlies score 85.5 point per game, led by Shane Johnson, who averages 19.8 ppg. Just behind is Brandon Sly who scores 18.7 ppg. Frederick Jackson leads the squad in rebounding, averaging 5.1 rpg.
 
THE COACHES
» Jeff Trumbauer enters his fourth season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets. He has a 39-57 record at BHSU.
 
» Bob Pietrack is in his third year as head coach of the Skyhawks. He was named RMAC Coach of the Year in 2015-16 after his first year at the helm.
 
» Russ Caton is in his third year at the helm of Adams State. Prior to taking over the Grizzlies, he was the head coach at UCCS.
 
Last Time Out
The Yellow Jackets began the 2018 portion of their season by splitting a pair of road Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games. BHSU fell to New Mexico Highlands, 75-62, before defeating Colorado State University-Pueblo, 72-67, to sweep the season series with the Thunderwolves.
 
In Friday's game against the Cowboys, Fraser Malcolm led the way for the Green and Gold, scoring 15 points and pulling down eight rebounds. Zach McLemore made three three-pointers and finished with nine points.
 
In the Saturday victory against CSU-P, Malcolm recorded his fifth double-double of the season, scoring 10 points and tallying 12 boards. Makaleb McInnis finished with 17 points, and Dez Stoudamire added 11.

Seeing Double
With Fraser Malcolm and Antonio Capley both recording double-doubles in the Yellow Jackets victory over CSU-Pueblo (Dec. 30), BHSU had two players with double figure points and rebounds for the first time since Feb. 18, 2011. Teammates Will John Johnson (23 points, 22 rebounds) and Luke Enos (24 points, 12 rebounds) led the Green and Gold in a 69-50 victory over Minot State when the team was still in the NAIA.
 
Feather in his Cap
Antonio Capley recorded his first career double-double in the Yellow Jacket's victory over CSU-Pueblo (Dec. 30). The sophomore tallied 15 points and 12 rebounds, both career-highs.
 
Pull it down
Stefan Desnica grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds against Colorado Christian (Dec. 9), Antonio Capley had a career-high 12 boards against CSU-Pueblo (Dec. 30), while Fraser Malcolm is second in the RMAC in offensive rebounds (2.9) and rebounding (8.5). The Yellow Jackets are third in the league in offensive rebounding (11.0).
 
South dakota hold 'em
BHSU leads the RMAC and is 23rd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 66.9 points per game.
 
Take care of the ball
Connor O'Hearn is fourth in the RMAC for assist to turnover ratio (2.3).
 
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 12.4 assists though 13 games. The 18 assists against Yellowstone Christian (Nov. 11) and CSU-Pueblo (Dec. 30) are the most in a single game since the Yellow Jackets had 19 in an 84-59 victory over Regis in 2015 (Dec. 12). Connor O'Hearn had a season-high six assists against the ThunderWolves.
 
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 11.1 ppg, while junior transfer Dez Stoudamire also averages double-figure scoring (10.4 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, the trend is continuing, as BHSU is 7-1 at home, and 1-4 on the road.

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.

Bring Cans, Beat Mines
Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to all home games from now until the final game against South Dakota Mines on February 6. The food collection is part of the annual Student Athlete Advisory Committee Food War versus South Dakota Mines. All food will go the local food pantry. You can leave your cans at the ticket table at any home game. Please help the Yellow Jacket BEAT MINES in the Food War.
 
  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.