BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team opened the season in exhibition action at in-state foe South Dakota State on Wednesday evening, falling to the Jackrabbits by a score of 90-77. The Yellow Jackets gave SDSU a fight in their first contest in the newly renovated First Bank & Trust Arena, clawing to within seven points with seven minutes remaining in the match-up, but the Jacks quickly pushed the margin back to double digits to end the game.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 77, South Dakota State 90
Attendance: 2,721
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• South Dakota State opened the game with an 8-2 advantage, forcing a Black Hills State timeout with 16:17 remaining in the first half. The first points of the game for the Yellow Jackets came by way of a pair of free throws by Jaeton Hackley in the first few minutes of action.
• The Jackrabbits extended their lead to 17-2 at the under 12 media timeout with 11:58 remaining on the first half clock. Out of the timeout a steal by Jack Haggett led to a spark on the offensive side of the ball. An offensive rebound by Hackley resulted in him finding John Shanklin for a layup and the first field goal of the game for BHSU. The very next possession Hackley added another jumper to cut the deficit to 17-6 with 11:01 on the clock.
• Hackley connected on the first 3-pointer of the game for the Yellow Jackets with 10:13 remaining in the half to cut the deficit to ten (19-9) as the teams began to go back-and-forth with one another. Entering the under eight timeout Tristan Hurdle connected on a jumper while drawing a foul, he converted the and-one following the under eight timeout to make it a 28-16 contest with 7:51 left in the half.
• A dish from Cam Lowe off a drive to Haggett resulted in a finish at the rim to trim the game back to a ten point deficit (30-20) with 5:51 left in the first 20 minutes of play. The ensuing possession Lowe went 1-of-2 at the charity stripe after drawing a foul on a baseline drive as BHSU continued to chip away as the margin fell under ten points (30-21). SDSU, however, scored seven unanswered points to push their lead to 37-21 with 3:49 left at the under four media in the first half.
• After South Dakota State grew their lead to as many as 17 points (45-28), Hackley added a pair of free throws and a 3-pointer to close the deficit to 47-33 at the halftime break and bringing his first half point total to 21. Hackley's career-high in regular season and countable contests is 15 points in a December 30, 2022, contest at Adams State.
• The first points of the second half for Black Hills State came on a 3-pointer by Lowe off an assist by Caelin Hearne with 19:34 left on the clock. The Yellow Jackets then added another basket from deep the ensuing possession to continue chipping away.
• The lead grew to 20 points for the Jackrabbits at 62-42 with 15:57 remaining at the under 16 media timeout. Out of the huddle Hackley would connect on his fifth 3-pointer of the game off an assist from Hurdle with 15:51 left in the game.
• Blake Volmer added a layup and a 3-pointer off an assist from Deegan Williams to trim the margin down to 13 points (65-52) as the teams entered the under 12 timeout with 11:52 left. Out of the timeout the offense continued to strike as a 3-pointer by Hurdle and a fast break layup by Joel Speckman made it eight unanswered as the margin fell under ten once again (65-57) with 11:31 left in the game. The Jackrabbits, however, had a quick response as a pair of baskets quickly pushed the lead back to double digits. The fight continued for the Yellow Jackets though as they battled back to within single digits entering the under eight timeout as Hearne connected on a 3-pointer off an assist from Shanklin as it became a 76-69 ball game with 7:04 remaining.
• South Dakota State made a push into the final media timeout as they extended their lead back to 85-72 with 2:51 left on the clock and a pair of free throws out of the timeout made it an 87-72 contest. The Yellow Jackets were unable to claw any closer in the final minutes as SDSU maintained the double digit lead for the 90-77 victory. 

BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Jaeton Hackley: 34 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Cam Lowe: 9 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists
 
UP NEXT
Black Hills State will begin the regular season on Saturday, November 9, as they travel to the Lone Star State to face Texas Tyler in the opening contest of the Far West Texas Showdown. The match-up will tip-off at 5 p.m. MST / 6 p.m. CST in the Gallego Center in Alpine, Texas.