SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State men's basketball team returns to the court for the first time in the 2024-25 season on Wednesday night when the Yellow Jackets visit in-state foe South Dakota State in an exhibition match-up that will not count towards either team's record. The contest will be the debut of the Jackrabbits newly renovated First Bank & Trust Arena as the team's tip-off at 7:15 MST / 8:15 CST.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Wednesday, October 30 at 7:15 MST / 8:15 CST
Location: Brookings, S.D. – First Bank & Trust Arena
Game Coverage: There will be no live stream, tv broadcast, or public live stats for the game, only radio.
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State posted a record of 17-13 (14-8 RMAC) during the 2023-24 season and reached the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament before falling 86-59 to Colorado Mesa after a fourth place finish in the league standings.
• In 30 games during the 2023-24 season BHSU averaged 73.4 points, 34.5 rebounds, 11.3 assists, 5.4 steals, and 3.4 blocks per game, while shooting the ball _46.2 percent from the field, 35.2 percent from 3-point range, and 71.1 percent from the free throw line.
• Black Hills State has been picked to finish fourth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 157 points.
• Despite having to replace Matthew Ragsdale who score 1,147 points in just two seasons at BHSU, and Hoku Fisher who averaged 12.9 points per game, the Yellow Jackets return a wealth of talent. Highlighting the returners for Black Hills State will be Caelin Hearne and John Shanklin.
• Hearne is the lone All-RMAC honoree returning for BHSU as he received honorable mention honors last season, averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game. He was a part of the top shooting duo in the league last season when on the court with Ragsdale, as he shot 45.2 percent from the floor which was ninth in the conference. Additionally, he has knocked down 96 career 3-pointers in the Green & Gold.
• Shanklin added averages of 6.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and a team-leading 1.1 blocks per game for Black Hills State. The rim defender recorded two or more blocked shots in ten games last season and had at least one block in 18 contests. He also gave BHSU a consistent option in the post, shooting the ball at a 64.8 percent clip which helped him reach double figures in six games.
• Other top returners for the Yellow Jackets include Joel Speckman who led the team in rebounding last year with 5.4 boards per game, Deegan Williams who dished out 2.0 assists per game, and Myles Johnson who tied for the team lead with 1.1 steals per game last season. Other players returning to Spearfish include Jaeton Hackley, Dawson Mohr, Matias Aldana, Jackson Edman, and Blake Volmer.
• Newcomers for the Yellow Jackets will include transfers Cam Lowe (Colorado State) and Tristan Hurdle (Fort Lewis), while incoming freshman include Jack Haggett, BJ Woodruff, Johnnie Reed, Charlie Spann, Neal Mosser, and Kavon Phillips.
• Ryan Thompson enters his seventh season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding the Yellow Jackets to a record of 121-54 during his career.

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE STORYLINES

• South Dakota State posted a record of 22-13 (12-4 Summit League) during the 2023-24 season and reached the NCAA Tournament for the second time in the last three years. The Jackrabbits fell to Iowa State in the first round of the big dance by a score of 82-65 after winning the Summit League regular season and tournament titles.
• The Jackrabbits have always had one of the top home court advantages in basketball as they tallied an all-time record of 573-139 (.805) from 1972-2024 in Frost Arena, but while the location remains the same, they will be making their debut in the newly renovated facility which also received a name change to First Bank & Trust Arena on Wednesday night.
• In 35 games during the 2023-24 season SDSU averaged 76.4 points, 35.4 rebounds, 12.9 assists, 6.1 steals, and 3.2 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 48.2 percent from the field, 36.5 percent from 3-point range, and 71.0 percent from the free throw line.
• South Dakota State has been picked to finish second in the Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 474 points and 12 first place votes.
• SDSU losses five starters and their top-4 scorers from a year ago but are led by key returners Bubz Alvarez, Nate Barnhart, Kalen Garry, and Matthew Mors. Gary was tabbed Preseason All-Summit Leage Second Team, as he averaged 7.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists as a sophomore last year.
• Among the returners for the Jacks, Barnhart added averages of 3.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 0.9 assists per game, while Mors averaged 3.5 points, and 1.5 rebounds, and Alvarez tacked on 1.9 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game.
• Looking to make an impact as a transfer for the Jackrabbits is Oscar Cluff, who brings NCAA Tournament experience from Washington State, where he averaged 7.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, while starting 23 games for the Cougars a year ago. He has been tabbed Preseason All-Summit League Second Team as well.
• Eric Henderson enters his seventh season as the head coach at South Dakota State, guiding the Jackrabbits to a record of 109-48 during his career. 

SERIES HISTORY

• Wednesday night will mark the second exhibition game between Black Hills State and South Dakota State, however the Jackrabbits hold an all-time series lead of 8-0 in countable match-ups.
• The last meeting between the Yellow Jackets and the Jackrabbits occurred on November 1, 2012, in Frost Arena in Brookings when SDSU earned an 89-66 victory. The match-up was the start of a stellar season for Tanner Adler in the Green & Gold as he poured in 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting from the field and 7-of-11 from 3-point range.