SPEARFISH, S.D. – In a match-up of teams that have recorded two straight victories following losses in their RMAC openers, the Black Hills State University men's basketball team looks to add one more tally to the conference win column before they hit the winter break. The Yellow Jackets, who are riding the momentum of a thrilling overtime win which saw them come from behind and erase a double digit deficit on Thursday night, will look to continue the momentum in a 3 p.m. match-up at Colorado Christian on Saturday, December 14.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Saturday, December 14 at 3 p.m.
Location: Lakewood, Colo. – CCU Event Center
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters the final game of the 2024 calendar year with a record of 6-5 (2-1 RMAC) on the season after earning a come from behind victory at UCCS (95-89) in overtime on Thursday. The Yellow Jackets trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half after a 19-0 Mountain Lion scoring run, however 8-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc in the second half helped BHSU push the game into the extra period where they prevailed with an 8-1 run to end the game.
• With the win over UCCS, Black Hills State has won five consecutive overtime games dating back to the 2021-22 season and are 7-1 under head coach Ryan Thompson in games that go to an extra period.
• The 11-of-22 (50.0%) 3-point shooting against the Mountain Lions marked the sixth time this year the Yellow Jackets reached double figure made baskets from beyond the arc, and the second time they have shot 50 percent or better.
• Black Hills State has been picked to finish fourth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 157 points in the vote by the head coaches. They are currently among four teams tied for fourth place in the conference standings with a 2-1 record as teams look to sort each other out prior to the winter break.
• Through 11 games in the 2024-25 season BHSU is averaging 76.3 points, 37.3 rebounds, 12.2 assists, 4.8 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 45.9 percent from the field, 36.3 percent from 3-point range, and 77.9 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents have averaged 68.9 points, 34.8 rebounds, 10.0 assists, 6.8 steals, and 2.1 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 38.7 percent from the field, 33.7 percent from 3-point range, and 77.1 percent from the free throw line.
• The Yellow Jackets currently rank 14^th in NCAA Division II in field goal percentage defense (38.7%), 24^th in defensive rebounds per game (28.82), and 24^th in free throw percentage (77.9%). Additionally, BHSU leads the RMAC with 3.8 blocked shots per game, recording at least three blocked shots in five of their last six games and eight times total on the year.
• Caelin Hearne continues to lead the team with an average of 16.8 points per game on the year, which ranks fourth in the RMAC, while he also adds 3.2 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. In the midst of 11 consecutive double digit scoring games to begin the season, he poured in a career-best 30 points in a win over Sioux Falls, marking one of nine games he has scored 14 or more points. While he holds the conference lead with 68 made field goals, he has been shooting the ball at a 46.9 percent clip from the field as he ranks sixth in the league in field goal percentage. Additionally, he is 43.6 percent from 3-point range and has knocked down three or more shots from beyond the arc in six games, highlighted by a season-best performance of 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc against USF. He currently ranks third in RMAC with 24 total 3-pointers and is eighth with 2.18 3-pointers per game.
• Newcomer Cam Lowe has also added a spark for the Yellow Jackets this year as he is averaging 13.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.7 blocks per game while shooting the ball 48.6 percent from the field, 42.3 percent from 3-point range, and he ranks third in the RMAC at 90.6 percent from the free throw line. He led the charges in BHSU's comeback win over UCCS, recording a career-high 28 points which included 6-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Of his 28 points and six 3-pointers against the Mountain Lions, 25 of his points and five of his 3-pointers occurred in the second half and overtime. He has one double-double on the season which saw him notch his first career 20-point game with 21 points, while he also secured a career-best 14 rebounds against Augustana. Overall, he has notched double figure points on seven occasions and has posted eight or more rebounds in seven contests. With a pair of double digit rebounding performances, he has tallied the second most total rebounds in the RMAC this year (85) and is fourth in rebounds per game average. Additionally, his 22 total 3-pointers on the year are seventh in the league and his 2.00 3-pointers per game average ranks 12^th in the conference.
• Another player to watch is Jaeton Hackley, who is averaging 11.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Overall, he has notched seven games in double figures scoring, including six of the last seven outings that was highlighted by a career-high of 19 points in the win over UMary where he shot 8-of-15 from the field. Among his five games this season with four or more rebounds, he secured a career-high of seven rebounds in the match-up against South Dakota Mines last week. His active defense has resulted in four multi-steal games, including a career-high of four steals in the victory over Chadron State last Saturday. Also, against the Eagles, he shattered a career-high with ten assists, marking the third time this year he tallied four or more in a game. It marked the first time since February 10, 2023, that a player tallied double digit assists for the Yellow Jackets, when Adam Moussa notched a triple-double against UCCS. In the RMAC he ranks seventh with 29 total assists and is eighth with 15 total steals.
• After missing a few games in the prior weeks, Tristan Hurdle has once again given Black Hills State another 3-point threat as he has shot the ball 5-of-12 from deep in his two games back, including three shots from beyond the arc against UCCS that led to an 11-point outing. He has totaled two double digit scoring performances this season, highlighted by a season-high of 21 points against Augustana when he connected on five 3-pointers. On the season he is averaging 7.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game while shooting 34.0 percent from the field, 32.4 percent from 3-point range, and is a perfect 4-of-4 at the charity stripe for 100.0 percent free throw shooting.
• John Shanklin notched his third double digit scoring outing of the year with ten points against UCCS as he was a perfect 5-of-5 from the field. The big man has provided a reliable shot down low for the Yellow Jackets, shooting 12-of-13 (92.3%) from the field in his last three games. He has secured five or more rebounds in five games this year, including a season-high of seven boards against No. 4/3 MSU Moorhead. On the defensive side of the ball, he ranks third in the RMAC with 13 total blocked shots and is sixth with 1.18 blocked shots per game. Overall, he is averaging 6.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.
• Ryan Thompson is in his seventh season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding the Yellow Jackets to a record of 127-59 during his career.

COLORADO CHRISTIAN STORYLINES

• Colorado Christian enters the final RMAC game prior to winter break with a 5-3 (2-1 RMAC) record this season following a 60-54 win at home over South Dakota Mines on Thursday night.
• The Cougars have been picked to finish 14^th in the RMAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 41 points in the vote by the league's head coaches. They are currently among four teams tied for fourth place in the conference standings with a 2-1 record as teams look to sort each other out prior to winter break.
• Through the first eight games of the season CCU is averaging 72.8 points, 33.0 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 6.3 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting the ball 50.0 percent from the field, 40.8 percent from 3-point range, and 74.8 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 67.3 points, 25.9 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 6.6 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting the ball 43.9 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from 3-point range, and 66.7 percent from the free throw line.
• Colorado Christian currently ranks ninth in NCAA Division II in 3-point percentage (40.8%), 22^nd in effective field goal percentage (57.4%), and 26^th in field goal percentage (50.0%)
• The lone player to average double figures for the Cougars is Bradley Land, who ranks seventh in the RMAC with 15.1 points per game and is ninth in the league with 6.4 rebounds per game. He has scored in double figures in seven of the team's eight contests so far this year, shooting 48-of-87 for 55.2 percent from the field on the year which puts him third in the conference in the stat category. Additionally, he is 8-of-13 (61.5%) from 3-point range and 17-of-21 (81.0%) from the free throw line this season. He has a pair of 20-point games thus far, highlighted by a season-high of 22 points in the season-opener against No. 5 Dallas Baptist while he also grabbed 11 rebounds for his lone double-double of the year. He has grabbed five or more boards on six occasions.
• The player to watch in the post for CCU is C Barnes who is averaging 8.4 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. He has reached double figures five times while he has shot the ball 64.6 percent from the field this season. He's posted a season-high of 15 points twice, occurring against Cal State Monterey Bay and Chadron State.
• The top shooter for one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country is Shaylen Woodberry, who is averaging 8.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game while shooting the ball 55.9 percent from the field, 57.1 percent from 3-point range, and 84.6 percent from the free throw line. He's knocked down 16-of-28 from beyond the arc this season, ranking 12^th in the conference with 2.00 3-pointers per game. He connected on a season-high of four baskets from deep in a match-up with St. Edwards earlier this year and has hit multiple 3-pointers in five games.
• Averaging 7.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, Schafer Reichart has been the facilitator of the Colorado Christian offense. The guard currently ranks second in the RMAC in assists per game, is fifth in total assists (33), and has only turned the ball over 16 times as he ranks fourth in the league with a 2.06 assist/turnover ratio. He has dished out four or more assists five times this season and has twice scored in double figures.
• Liam Simmons is in his fifth season as the head coach at Colorado Christian, guiding the Cougars to a 38-73 record during his career.

SERIES HISTORY

• Black Hills State currently holds an 11-10 edge in the series with Colorado Christian as RMAC opponents since the 2012-13 season.
• The Yellow Jackets secured their sixth consecutive win against the Cougars with a 65-56 victory in A2 Arena on March 1, 2024, in the last meeting between the teams.