GOLDEN, Colo. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team (11-10, 9-6 RMAC) made the trek to Lockridge Arena to battle No. 17/22 Colorado School of Mines (19-5, 13-3 RMAC) and would walk out with an 86-83 victory after
Matthew Ragsdale hit the game-winning 3-pointer as time expired. Black Hills State hit 13 3-pointers while shooting 52.4% from the floor in the win.
The Yellow Jackets came out of the gates hot, scoring the first seven of the game's nine points.
Caelin Hearne (Jr., Norman, Okla.) with a quick four points and a Ragsdale (Gr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) 3-pointer set the tone early for Black Hills State. Leading 9-4 at the first media break, the Orediggers would climb back into it, pulling to within two at 13-11. Using a 7-0 spurt, Colorado Mines would take their first lead at 15-13 at the midway point of the first half.
As the opening half went along, it would be Hearne getting easy buckets around the hoop as the Yellow Jackets looked to capitalize on Oredigger turnovers.
Hoku Fisher (So., Wilmington, N.C.) would put BH back in front driving to the basket, who would then hit a 3-pointer on the next possession to reopen a five -point advantage to head into a media break, BH leading 20-15. Fisher would continue to shoot with confidence, scoring eight-straight points for the Jackets, being the first to reach double digits on the night. The shooting would become contagious as Ragsdale would join in on the 3-point parade, to open a 26-17 lead. For four consecutive possessions, Black Hills State would hit a deep ball. It would force Colorado Mines to use a time out as the Jackets had opened a 32-19 lead on a 19-4 run.
The Orediggers would use a small spurt of their own to pull within eight points with under five minutes to play in the half, but that would be stymied by BH's seventh 3-pointer of the half, this one from
Ronnail Tape (Jr., Fort Myers, Fla.). The home squad would draw to within six points with a minute and a half left in the half, but it would be Black Hills State who would take a 39-34 lead into the locker room at the half.
The offensive fireworks of the opening half saw the Yellow Jackets shoot 50.0% from the field (15-for-30) and 41.2% from 3-point range (7-for-17). Fisher led all scorers with his 12 first half points (4-for-6 shooting) and dishing out three assists. BHSU also recorded four first half blocks with a pair from
John Shanklin (Sr., Bellevue, Neb.).
Just like the first half, Hearne opened the second half with a driving lay-up. Near the first media break of the second half, the Orediggers would trail by just one at 45-44 but a 3-pointer from Hearne would give BHSU some breathing room. Back-to-back 3-pointers out of the media break saw the Yellow Jackets up a 53-47 lead. A hard drive and finish at the basketball from Ragsdale would earn him an and-one opportunity, as he would extend the lead up to nine points.
The Jacket defensive intensity would force a Oredigger turnover, eliciting extreme excitement from the coaching staff and bench. That would be turned into a double-digit lead thanks to a Shanklin lay-up, leading 60-50 as BHSU made good on eight of their last nine shots.
By the midway point of the second half, BHSU would hold a 13-point advantage at 66-53 as hard Oredigger close outs to try and slow down the 3-point barrage would lead to free throws for the Jackets. Hearne would give BH their largest lead of the night with a hard take to the bucket himself, extending the lead up to 70-55. Following the under-8 media time out, the Orediggers would go on a 5-0 run by a
Deegan Williams (So., Gillette, Wyo.) 3-pointer would stop the run and silence Lockridge Arena.
Leading by 10 points at 73-63, the Orediggers would hit a pair of free throws to pull within single digits. In the attempt to defend their home floor, Colorado Mines would make a push in the final five minutes. Pulling to within six points at 79-73 and getting the active student section into it, Black Hills State looked to quell the momentum tide. The Orediggers would continue to push the ball and score in transition in their attempt to claw back into the game, utilizing an 8-0 run late.
A steal and breakaway dunk would get the entire arena loud as Colorado Mines pulled to within four points. With just over a minute to play in a deafening Lockridge Arena, the Yellow Jackets would cling to an 81-79 advantage, but the Orediggers would knot it up. Following a BH time out with 36.1 seconds left in regulation, it would be Hearne who would lay it in, but Mines would respond with a bucket of their own. With a chance for the win on the final shot, it would be the RMAC's leading scorer in Ragsdale who hit the game-winning 3-pointer for the 86-83 win over No. 17/22 Colorado Mines.
GAME NOTES
- BH committed a season-low eight turnovers in the victory.
- Hoku Fisher dished out a career-best six assists in the win, while also shooting 6-for-12 from the floor.
- BHSU shot 52.4% from the floor on the night.
- Shooting 13-for-30 from deep (43.3%), it marks the seventh time the Jackets have shot 40% or better from deep in a game.
- Matthew Ragsdale had a game-high 27 points, recording his 14th 20-point game of the season; shooting 6-for-10 from deep.
- Both Hoku Fisher and Caelin Hearne had 17 points in the victory.
- Ragsdale hit six of the team's 13 3-pointers, including the game-winner.
- The Yellow Jackets were one block shy from their season-high with Hearne and John Shanklin both with a pair.
- Every Yellow Jacket that saw minutes tonight put points on the board.
- The win tonight moves the all-time series to 15-8 in favor of Mines, as BHSU picks up their fourth win in Golden (4-8).
- The two teams split the regular season series, each time winning on the road.
Up Next: Black Hills State will take on the Roadrunners of MSU Denver (14-7, 8-7 RMAC) tomorrow afternoon in Denver with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
