SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team is set to wrap up a four-game homestand this week, hosting South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and Westminster College. The Hardrockers make the trip to Spearfish on Tuesday, January 16, at 7:30 p.m., before the Yellow Jackets welcome the Griffins on Thursday, January 18, at 7:30 p.m.

THE GAME - South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
» The Hardrockers defeated the Yellow Jackets in both meetings last year, and have won the previous six meetings. The last win for BHSU was a 72-67 victory on Nov. 17, 2014, which was head coach Jeff Trumbauer's first game with the Green and Gold.

» South Dakota Mines enters the rivalry game having lost the last five games. Most recently the team lost, 73-68, to #21 Fort Lewis, and 80-70, to Adams State. The team is 12th in the RMAC.

» The Hardrockers average 71.3 points per game, led by Logan Elers, who scores 14.2 ppg. Troy Brady (12.0 ppg) and Jake Heath (10.1 ppg) also average in double-figures. Elers also leads the squad in rebounding, with 5.2 rebounds per game.

THE GAME - Westminster College Griffins
» The two teams are 1-1 all-time, with the Yellow Jackets winning, 68-63 in the 2015-16 season, and the Griffins winning, 83-56, last year.

» Westminster currently sits half a game back of Fort Lewis in second place in the conference. They have won four consecutive games, most recently defeating Chadron State, 69-51.

» The Griffins score 77.7 ppg, led by preseason All-RMAC team member Dayon Goodman, who averages 27.4 ppg and 8.1 rpg. Goodman has won four Offensive Player of the Week honors this season.

THE COACHES
» Jeff Trumbauer enters his fourth season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets. He has a 41-57 record at BHSU.

» Jason Henry is in his 11th season as the coach of the Hardrockers.

» Norm Parrish is in his third year as the head coach of the Griffins.

Last Time Out
The Yellow Jackets went 2-0 in a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games last weekend. On Friday, BHSU took down #21 Fort Lewis, 67-64, on Friday, before defeating Adams State, 67-65, on Saturday.

Makaleb McInnis had a double-double (20 points, 11 rebounds) to lead the Yellow Jackets to an upset victory over the nationally ranked Skyhawks. Stefan Desnica scored a career-high 10 points, and Fraser Malcolm also added 10. Connor O'Hearn had six points and four assists.

Malcolm tied his career-high with 25 points, as BHSU edged Adams State on Saturday. McInnis and Antonio Capley each chipped in 10 points.

Beating a Ranked Opponent
The Yellow Jackets defeated a ranked opponent for the second time in two years when they took down #21 Fort Lewis, 67-64, on January 12. Black Hills State defeated a ranked opponent for the first time in the NCAA era when it took down No. 18 Colorado Mines last season. In recent memory, BHSU was 0-1 in 2015-16 against ranked opponents, and 0-6 in the 2014-15 season.

Black Hills High
Several Yellow Jackets have set career-highs in scoring so far this year. Stefan Desnica scored in double-figures for the first time in his career against Fort Lewis (Jan. 12), recording 10 points. Fraser Malcolm tied his career-high with 25 points against Adams State (Jan. 13). Antonio Capley put up 15 points, a new high, against CSU-Pueblo (Dec. 30).

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 third in the RMAC in offensive rebounds (2.7) and fourth in rebounding (7.7). The Yellow Jackets are third in the league in offensive rebounding (11.0).

South Dakota Hold 'em
BHSU leads the RMAC and is 22nd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 66.6 points per game.

Take Care of the Ball
Connor O'Hearn is fourth in the RMAC for assist to turnover ratio (2.0).

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 12.3 assists though 15 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 (Dec. 30). Wyatt Krogman had a season-high six assists against Fort Lewis (1/12/18).

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 11.6 ppg, while junior transfer Dez Stoudamire is averaging 9.9 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 9-1 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.