SPEARFISH, S.D. – Makaleb McInnis recorded a double-double as the Black Hills State University men's basketball team defeated No. 21 Fort Lewis College, 67-64, on Friday evening.

McInnis scored 20 points and pulled down 11 boards to lead the Yellow Jackets (9-5, 6-4 RMAC) to the upset victory. Fraser Malcolm and Stefan Desnica each added 10 points, while Connor O'Hearn had six points and four assists.

BHSU came out looking to make a statement, making three three-pointers in the first three minutes of the game. After Patrick Mendes, Desnica, and O'Hearn made treys, the Green and Gold led 9-3 with 17:20 left in the first.

The Skyhawks (13-3, 9-2 RMAC) came back to tie the game, 9-9, but a three by Malcolm with 13:14 gave the lead back to the Yellow Jackets, who would refuse to relinquish it for the remainder of the game. The home team pushed the lead out to as many as 11 points in the first period, but Fort Lewis ended the half on a 5-0 run to narrow the gap. Heading into the break, BHSU led, 30-26.

The nationally ranked Skyhawks came within two points in the first minute of the half, but baskets by Malcolm, Desnica, and Mendes extended the lead back out to nine points. Fort Lewis would not go easily, cutting the lead again to two, 53-51, with 4:59 left in the game. As the game came down the stretch, McInnis had two important offensive rebounds off missed free throws to give the Yellow Jackets extra possessions and the chance to run out the clock. The Green and Gold were able to hang on and defeat No. 21 FLC, 67-64.

The victory is the second over a ranked opponent at the Donald E. Young Center in the past two seasons. The Yellow Jackets defeated then No. 18 Colorado School of Mines last year, 57-56.

BHSU shot 39.3 percent from the field (22-for-56), while FLC was 38.5 percent from the floor (20-for-52). The Yellow Jackets were 12-for-29 (41.4 percent) from beyond the arc, while the Skyhawks were 4-for-10 (40.0 percent) on three-pointers. BHSU was 11-for-17 (64.7 percent) from the free throw line, while Fort Lewis was 20-for-31 (65.5 percent).  The Green and Gold were outrebounded, 39-35.  

For the Rangers, Brandon Wilson led the way with 16 points, while Rasmus Bach had 11, and Riley Farris added 10. Bach, the RMAC Preseason Player of the Year, was held to his second lowest scoring output this season (9 points, twice).  

The Green and Gold next host Adams State on Saturday, January 13. The game is scheduled to tipoff at 6 p.m.
  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.