RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team was unable to disrupt the best start to a season in program history for Minot State as they fell by a score of 71-64 on Saturday afternoon in the King Center. The Beavers remained perfect on the year as they used a 15-0 scoring run midway through the first half and a 14-0 run late in the second half to create separation, never allowing the Yellow Jackets to regain the lead despite getting within a single point on three occasions and tying the ball game once in the final 20 minutes of action. BHSU out-shot MSU in the contest 40.4 percent compared to 38.1 percent, however Minot State capitalized with a 12-2 advantage in second chance points.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 64, #RV/-- Minot State 71
Team Records: Black Hills State 4-4, #RV/-- Minot State 4-4 (1-0 NSIC)
Attendance: 100
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The scoring in the game started with a quick pull up jumper in the paint by Caelin Hearne and a 3-pointer from the right corner by Jaeton Hackley off an assist from Hearne, giving Black Hills State an early 5-0 advantage just a minute and a half into the contest.
• Minot State gained the lead with a straight away 3-pointer Caleb Van De Griend off a kick out pass from Sam West, making it an 11-9 game with 15:23 to play in the opening half. A pair of free throws by Jack Haggett briefly tied the game at 11 apiece, however the Beavers broke open the game with a 15-0 scoring run to make it a 26-11 advantage following another basket from Van De Griend as he powered up for the layup after securing an offensive board with 9:25 left in the first.
• MSU stretched their lead to 17 points (33-16), the largest of the game, with a right-wing 3-pointer from Trey Brandt off an assist from Van De Griend. The Yellow Jackets began to chip away as a floater on by Cam Lowe on a drive down the left side of the lane the ensuing possession sparked a 17-6 run to end the first half. The BHSU run was capped with a right corner 3-pointer by BJ Woodruff with just one second left on the clock, cutting the deficit to 39-33 as he knocked down the shot after receiving a kick out pass from Hackley as he drove the lane and pulled in the defense.
• The Black Hills State scoring run continued into the second half as a left-handed hook shot from the right block by John Shanklin and a left-wing 3-pointer by Jack Haggett off the drive and kick out by Hackley pushed it to 22-6 as they trimmed the deficit to 39-38 with 18:23 remaining in the game.
• Minot State was able to end the run with a right-handed hook shot by Van De Griend from the middle of the paint the ensuing possession as they only allowed the Yellow Jackets to get within a single point on two occasions before they grew the lead back to as many as seven points (49-42) with 13:38 left on the clock.
• After trailing by seven points midway through the second half, a 9-2 scoring run for BHSU was capped by a right-wing 3-pointer by Lowe as he stepped behind a screen to knock down the shot with 8:46 to play, tying the score at 53 apiece. The Beavers, however, had a response yet again as they answered with a 14-0 scoring run to take a 67-53 advantage late, never allowing BHSU to regain the lead.
• Black Hills State made one final push as they strung together an 11-2 run which saw a pair of free throws by Hearne cut the deficit down to five (69-64) with 56 seconds to play, but a 2-of-2 trip to the charity stripe for Brandt iced the game for the Beavers and brought the final to 71-64. On their final offensive possession, the Yellow Jackets had four opportunities as they missed three 3-pointers and missed another jumper from just inside the arc as the Beaver defense held firm before they ran out the clock. 

BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Caelin Hearne: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block
Jaeton Hackley: 13 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals
Jack Haggett: 11 points, 4 rebounds,
 
UP NEXT
Black Hills State will round out a stretch of three consecutive games in the King Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, as they begin RMAC action on Tuesday, December 3, with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off at South Dakota Mines.
  Read Full Article