SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team (12-11, 10-7 RMAC) picked up a pivotal win inside A2 Arena behind four double-digit scoring efforts as the Yellow Jackets downed the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (11-13, 7-11 RMAC) to remain in the hunt for a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) hosting bid.

FINAL | A clutch win late in the season!

BHSU shot 85.0% (17-for-20) from the free throw line in the win! #ClimbTheHills pic.twitter.com/1YRM2bxm3n

— Black Hills State MBB (@BHSUMBB) February 17, 2024

 
A fast start for Black Hills State back inside A2 Arena, scoring the first seven points of the game. Three Yellow Jackets combined for the 14 BH points by the first media time out, leading 14-7. Dawson Mohr (So., Scottsbluff, Neb.) doubled his season average with a 3-pointer out of the break, extending the BHSU lead to double digits at 10 points. Seven-straight points would pull the Mountain Lions to within one possession with the Yellow Jackets leading 17-14 with nine minutes to play in the half. Following a technical foul on the UCCS bench, the Yellow Jackets pushed their lead back up to seven points as Matthew Ragsdale (Gr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) was the first scorer on the night to reach double digits.
 
With five minutes to play in the half, UCCS again pulled to within one score, cutting the BH lead to 26-24. The Mountain Lions continued to show some fight, staying within striking distance and would take their first lead on a deep ball, taking the 32-21 lead with just under three minutes to play. It wouldn't last long as John Shanklin (Sr., Bellevue, Neb.) responded on the ensuing possession. By the end of the first half, Black Hills State would take a 40-37 lead into the locker room.
 
Ragsdale led all scorers in the first half with his 12 points, while Deegan Williams (So., Gillette, Wyo.) brought down six rebounds and had numerous hustle plays to give BH extra possessions with the basketball. Turnovers early in the half aided the Yellow Jackets to grow a comfortable lead, but once UCCS began taking care of the ball the score tightened up.
 
Into the second half, BHSU would push their lead back up to six points at 45-39 four minutes in. Out of the first media time out, the Jacket defense forced a five-second turnover as the defense began to intensify. A 5-0 Yellow Jacket run saw the lead get pushed back up to eight points at 50-42 into the second media time out. By the under-12 break, the run continued at 8-1 as the Jackets posted their second double-digit lead of the game at 53-43.
 
Despite battling foul trouble with three guys with four fouls, Black Hills State continued to maintain a double-digit lead. Later in the half, the two sides traded 3-pointers as BH would still hold a 13-point lead at 79-66 with under two minutes to play in the contest. The Yellow Jackets would go on to secure the 82-73 win to secure the regular season sweep of the Mountain Lions.
 
GAME NOTES

• In games with 10+ free throw attempts on the season, BH shot their season best tonight at 85.0% (17-for-20).
• Matthew Ragsdale and Caelin Hearne led all scorers with their 19 points each.
• In total, four Yellow Jackets sat in double digits: Ragsdale & Hearne (19), Hoku Fisher (14), and Deegan Williams (13).
• For Hearne, he stays on pace in his last eight games (minus SDSMT) (19.5ppg).
• Williams shot 3-for-5 from 3-point range, counting for all his shots from the floor.
• Hearne and Williams both led the team with their nine rebounds apiece.
• Ronnail Tape led the team with his three assists off the bench.
• Ragsdale now needs just 42 points to reach 1,000 career points at BHSU.
• The win keep BH in the hunt for a Quarterfinal hosting bid in the RMAC tournament, currently sitting tied for fourth with MSU Denver (10-7 RMAC) with five games remaining in the regular season.
• BH improves to 15-11 all-time against UCCS, winning their fifth-straight game over the Mountain Lions.

Up Next: Black Hills State will look for the regular season split against the Regis Rangers (13-11, 10-8 RMAC) tomorrow, February 17 to conclude the weekend. Tip-off from A2 Arena is slated for 6:00 p.m.