SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team hits the road for a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games this weekend. The Yellow Jackets take on Colorado Mesa University on Friday, January 26, before playing Western State Colorado University on Saturday, Janaury 27. Friday's game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m., while Saturday is set to tipoff at 7 p.m.

THE GAME - Colorado Mesa University Mavericks
» The Yellow Jackets defeated the Mavericks in both meetings last year, after splitting the season series in 2015-16.

» Colorado Mesa enters the game on a two-game losing streak, falling to MSU Denver (80-60) and UCCS (90-68) in its most recent games. They currently sit in 12th place in the RMAC.

» The Mavericks average 80.7 points per game, led by Emilio Acedo, who scores 18.0 ppg. Connor Nichols averages 17.9 ppg and a team-high 7.1 rpg. Damon Dubots (11.4 ppg) and CJ Davis (10.9 ppg) also average in double-figure scoring.

THE GAME - Western State Colorado University Mountaineers
» BHSU have won six consecutive meetings with the Mountaineers, including a 85-72 victory last season.

» Western State most recently fell to UCCS in overtime, 105-100, before losing to MSU Denver, 84-75. The team currently sits in a tie for 10th in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

» The Mountaineers average 82.4 ppg, led by Ben Beauchamp, who scores 16.4 points per game. Three other players - Collin Smith (15.1), Quincy Harding (14.4), and Brady Subart (13.5) - score in double-figures.

THE COACHES
» Jeff Trumbauer enters his fourth season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets. He has a 42-58 record at BHSU.

» Andy Shantz is in his fifth year as coach of the Mavericks. Prior to taking over, Shantz was an assistant at CMU for 16 years.

» Brad Schafer, head coach at Western State, is in his fourth year at the helm.

Last Time Out
The Yellow Jackets cruised by South Dakota Mines in a midweek rivalry game, before falling to Westminster last Thursday.

In a matchup against in-state rival South Dakota Mines, BHSU won big, 92-69. Five Yellow Jackets scored in double-figures, led by Dez Stoudamire with 22 points. Makaleb McInnis scored 21 points, Fraser Malcolm had 15, and Connor O'Hearn added 12 points. Antonio Capley had a double-double off the bench, recording 12 points and 11 rebounds. It was the first victory for the Green and Gold over the Hardrockers since Nov. 17, 2014.

The Yellow Jackets then fell to Westminster, 66-58. The loss was just the second of the year on their home floor. Malcolm scored 15 points and had eight rebounds to lead BHSU. Stefan Desnica scored a career-high 14 points, and McInnis chipped in 11 points.

Familiar Faces
Three familiar faces will meet the Yellow Jackets this weekend, with one of them being former head coach Brad Schafer. Schafer, now the head coach of Western State, guided the Yellow Jackets to the 2010-11 DAC Championship and 2011 DAC Tournament Championship while securing a 55-58 record as a head coach. Two of Schafer's players include two-year Yellow Jacket Colin Smith and one-year Yellow Jacket Ben Beauchamp.
 
20-20
Two players scored 20+ points against South Dakota Mines. Dez Stoudamire scored a career-high 22 points, and Makaleb McInnis recorded 21 points. This is the first time this season two players have scored more than 20 points, and the first time since Feb. 4, 2017, when Fraser Malcolm (23) and Connor O'Hearn (20) both hit that mark.
 
Rivalry Win
BHSU defeated South Dakota Mines on Jan. 16, 92-69. The victory was the first over the Hardrockers since Nov. 17, 2014. The two teams will meet again on Feb. 6 in Rapid City.
 
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, and then set a new career-high of 14 points against Westminster (Jan. 18). 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. He followed that up with a double-double on Jan. 16 against South Dakota Mines (12 points, 11 rebounds).
 
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 (2.8) and fourth in rebounding (7.8). The Yellow Jackets are third in the league in offensive rebounding (10.9).
 
South Dakota Hold'Em
BHSU is second in the RMAC and is 23rd in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 66.7 points per game.
 
Take Care of the Ball
Connor O'Hearn is seventh in the RMAC for assist to turnover ratio (1.9).
 
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 are averaging 11.5 assists per game. 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) and Hardrockers (Jan. 16). Wyatt Krogman had a season-high six assists against Fort Lewis (Jan. 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 12.2 ppg, while junior transfer Dez Stoudamire is averaging 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 10-2 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.