SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team (14-12, 12-8 RMAC) is set to open the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) tournament tomorrow, Tuesday, March 5 when they play host to the Roadrunners of MSU Denver (19-9, 13-9 RMAC) inside A2 Arena. The first 350 students to the game will receive a free Coke Spiced.
GAME INFORMATION
Black Hills State (16-12, 14-8 RMAC) vs. MSU Denver (19-9, 13-9 RMAC)
Date: Tuesday, March 5 //
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Spearfish, S.D. (A2 Arena)
Watch: rmacnetwork.com ($) //
Listen: KDSJ Radio (103.5 FM & 980 AM)
RMAC RANKINGS
- Matthew Ragsdale led the conference with his 22.6ppg mark, the only RMAC men's basketball player to average 20+ points per game.
- He also now leads the RMAC in made 3-pointers (86).
- John Shanklin enters the tournament sitting sixth in the RMAC in total blocks (28).
BHSU IN THE RMAC TOURNAMENT
- Black Hills State is 7-5 (.583) all-time in the RMAC Tournament.
- Under HC Ryan Thompson, BH is 7-4 in the tournament and have made two appearances in the championship game (winning it in 2022).
RAGSDALE TABBED RMAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
- His scoring mark sits seventh in Division II (22.6ppg).
- He has five 30-point games this season, including doing so in the last three games.
- He shot 11-for-23 (47.8%) from 3-point range on the week.
- Dropped 36 points in the come-from-behind victory over Chadron State on Saturday.
- It marks the second weekly honor for Ragsdale this season (Feb. 19).
HEARNE WAS RED HOT IN FEBRUARY
- In the month of February, Caelin Hearne averaged 20.0 points per game for the Yellow Jackets.
- The junior had a stretch of seven-straight games of scoring in double digits from Feb. 3 to Feb. 24.
- On the season, he's one of three Jackets to average double digits this season, sitting second on the team with his 13.1 points per game.
HOKU FISHER BALLIN' OUT
- Hoku Fisher enters the RMAC Tournament leading the team in both assists (73) and steals (29).
- The sophomore is also the third Yellow Jacket to average double-digit scoring (10.1ppg).
- Meanwhile, he's also been a threat from deep, shooting 35.1% from behind the arc this season.
- He hit a season-high four 3-pointers in the upset win of then-ranked No. 17/22 Colorado Mines.
- His 73 assists sits T15th in the RMAC on the year.
LAST TIME OUT
- The Yellow Jackets picked up a pair of wins last weekend over Colorado Christian (65-56) and Chadron State (94-83, OT) to conclude the regular season.
- Matthew Ragsdale was doing Ragsdale things, averaging 33.0 points per game in the two contests.
SERIES HISTORY – MSU DENVER
- MSU Denver leads the all-time series, 16-9.
- The two teams split the regular season series, each winning on their home floor.
- The Roadrunners lead the series 7-5 in Spearfish, despite losing inside A2 Arena back on Dec. 8 (75-56, BHSU).
- BHSU is 8-2 in the last 10 meetings against MSU Denver.
SERIES HISTORY – CHADRON STATE
RMAC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
QUARTERFINALS – TUESDAY, MARCH 5
(8) Chadron State @ (1) Colorado Mesa
Grand Junction, Colo. | 7:30 PM
(5) MSU Denver @ (4) Black Hills State
Spearfish, S.D. | 7:00 PM
(7) CSU Pueblo @ (2) Fort Lewis
Durango, Colo. | 6:00 PM
(6) Regis @ (3) Colorado Mines
Golden, Colo. | 7:00 PM
SEMIFINALS – FRIDAY, MARCH 9
CSU Pueblo/Colorado Mesa v. Colorado Mines/UCCS
Location TBD | Time TBD
Colorado Christian/Regis v. BHSU/Adams State
Location TBD | Time TBD
CHAMPIONSHIP – SATURDAY, MARCH 10
Semifinal #1 Winner v. Semifinal #2 Winner
Location TBD | Time TBD
Up Next: The winner will advance to the Semifinal round of the RMAC Tournament on Friday, March 9 against the winner of (8) Chadron State and (1) Colorado Mesa. Location and time are yet to be determined.
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