SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team stays on the road for a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games this weekend. The Yellow Jackets take on Metropolitan State University of Denver on Friday, February 2, before playing the University of Colorado Colorado Springs on Saturday, February 3. The rematch on Friday begins at 7 p.m., while Saturday is set to tipoff at 7:30 p.m.

THE GAME - Metropolitan State University of Denver Roadrunners
» The Roadrunners and Yellow Jackets meet for the second time this weekend, with BHSU looking to earn a season split, and a first ever win against MSU Denver, after falling, 62-56, on Dec. 2.

» MSU Denver enters the game on a two-game losing streak, falling to UCCS (84-72) and Westminster (60-57) most recently. However, the Roadrunners currently sit in third place in the RMAC standings.

» The Roadrunners average 71.8 points per game, led by Cameron Williams, who scores 20.5 ppg. Peter Moller (12.6 ppg) and Jaryn Taylor (10.5 ppg) also average double-figure scoring. Bounama Keita leads the squad in rebounding, pulling down 7.7 boards per game. Keita has earned two RMAC Defensive Player of the Week honors this season.

THE GAME - University of Colorado Colorado Springs Mountain Lions
» The Yellow Jackets look to make it a season sweep with they meet the Mountain Lions this weekend. BHSU won the initial meeting, 77-66, on Dec. 1.

» UCCS has won four consecutive games entering the weekend, most recently defeating Westminster (67-61) and MSU Denver (84-72). The Mountain Lions sit in a tie for ninth in the RMAC standings, just behind BHSU.

» The Mountain Lions average 80.4 points per game, led by Elijah Ross, who scores 15.6 ppg. Ross and Justin Smith (10.6 ppg) lead the squad with 5.4 rebounds per game.

THE COACHES
» Jeff Trumbauer enters his fourth season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets. He has a 42-60 record at BHSU.

» Michael Bahl is in his first season as the head coach of the Roadrunners. He was an assistant coach at MSU Denver for the seven season prior.

» Jeff Culver is in his sixth season at the helm of the Mountain Lion program.

Last Time Out
The Yellow Jackets fell in a pair of road Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference games last weekend. BHSU fell to Colorado Mesa, 68-65, before losing to Western State, 90-76.

Fraser Malcolm recorded his sixth double-double of the year against the Mavericks, recording 13 points and 12 rebounds. Wyatt Krogman (13), Patrick Mendes (12), Stefan Desnica (12), and Makaleb McInnis (10) all scored in double-figures as well. Antonio Capley pulled down 12 boards, while Krogman had a season-high nine assists.

In Saturday's game against the Mountaineers, Malcolm recorded 24 points and seven rebounds. McInnis had 17 points and Krogman chipped in 12 points.

How it Stands
The Yellow Jackets currently sit in a tie for seventh place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings. With an 8-7 league record, BHSU and New Mexico Highlands are tied in the middle of the pack. If the season were to end now, the Green and Gold would earn a spot in the RMAC Tournament as the eight seed (due to tie-breakers with the Cowboys) and travel to No. 1 seed Fort Lewis.

Moving On Up
Wyatt Krogman continues to move up the All-Time Assist list at BHSU. Krogman currently sits at 280 total assists, good for fourth all-time. The senior has 50 assists so far this season. Fraser Malcolm also makes an appearance in a record list, sitting in eighth place in the career rebounding list. He currently has 388 total rebounds.

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). Against Colorado Mesa (Jan. 27), Capley matched his career-high in rebounds with 12.

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), and again at Colorado Mesa (Jan. 27), while Fraser Malcolm is third in the RMAC in offensive rebounds (2.7) and tied for third in rebounding (7.9). The Yellow Jackets are third in the league in offensive rebounding (11.0).

South Dakota Hold'Em
BHSU is second in the RMAC and is 30th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 68.0 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 11.9 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 nine assists against Colorado Mesa (Jan. 27).

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 12.3 ppg, while junior transfer Dez Stoudamire is averaging 9.7 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 1-6 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.