GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team (17-13, 14-8 RMAC) dropped an 86-59 decision to the No. 1-seeded Mavericks of Colorado Mesa (27-3, 21-1 RMAC) in the Semifinals of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Tournament Friday night inside Brownson Arena.
 
It took a while for both sides to get going with Colorado Mesa up early with a 4-0 lead through the first three minutes of play. The Mavericks, following the first media break of the night, extended their lead up to 11-2. Pushing the lead up to double digits by the under -12 break, the Mavericks would continue to use hot shooting the rest of the first half. Mesa would take a 45-23 lead into the halftime break, shooting at a clip of 53.3% from the floor in the first 20 minutes.
 
The home squad continued to use a hot shooting clip early in the second half. Matthew Ragsdale (Gr., Colorado Springs, Colo.) would be a spark for the Yellow Jacket offense, putting up 23 points in the effort. Myles Johnson (Jr., Portage, Mich.) became a bit more active in the second half, recording a pair of assists and steals, plus a rebound.
 
Ultimately, the league's top-seeded team would continue to impress on the home floor. Black Hills State, though down, would not quit, but it would be the Mavericks who prevailed 86-59.
 
GAME NOTES

• Matthew Ragsdale hit his season average, pacing the team with 23 points tonight.
• Hoku Fisher added 13 points and Myles Johnson put up 11 points.
• Fisher also grabbed a team-high eight rebounds, while Caelin Hearne brought down six.
• Johnson also notched five steals in the effort.
• CMU took both meetings this season and BH falls to 13-9 (CMU) all-time against the Mavericks.  

Black Hills State finishes the season at 17-13 (14-8 RMAC) and advanced to their fourth-straight appearance in the RMAC Semifinals.