Spearfish, SD ­- The Black Hills State University men's basketball team kicks off it's 2019 campaign on the road. On Saturday November 9^th, they take on University of Arkansas Fort Smith, at 4:30pm mountain time. They turn around and play Tarleton State University Sunday, November 10^th, at 1PM mountain time.
 
Head Coach Ryan Thompson is entering his second year at the helm of the program. Last year he led the Yellow Jackets to their first ever RMAC championship game and an 18-11 finish on the year. This season, the Green and Gold were selected to finish ninth in the coach's preseason poll. Tyler Oliver was selected as the athlete to watch.

Last season, Oliver earned Second Team All-RMAC honors. Oliver is a native of Jackson, Michigan, and averaged 11.2 points per game. He led the Green and Gold in rebounding, pulling down 5.7 boards per game. He also led the squad in assists, dishing 3.4 per game, which was eighth in the RMAC. His 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio was 10th in the conference. He was named RMAC Offensive Player of the Week back in December 2018.

Stefan Desnica also returns to provide leadership, he was named to the RMAC All-Tournament team. Hailing from Temerin, Serbia he averaged 9.7 points per game last season. He was consistent  from the line hitting 75 percent of his free throws. He also was 10^th in the RMAC for blocked shots.
The Yellow Jackets signed over eight new players in the offseason and will be looking to build depth to make another run at the RMAC championship game.
 
The Green and Gold will have a series of non-conference games before opening up RMAC play on Tuesday, November 26^th at 7:30 pm in the Young Center against rival SD School of Mines.