SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team will play their lone game away from home in a three week stretch as they visit regional rival Chadron State on Thursday, January 30. The Yellow Jackets look to complete the season sweep of the Eagles and stay among the RMAC leaders as the season nears its final full month of the regular season. BHSU and CSC will tip-off at 7 p.m. in the Chicoine Center in Chadron, Nebraska.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Saturday, January 30 at 7 p.m.
Location: Chadron, Neb. – Chicoine Center
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters the mid-week road match-up with a record of 10-8 (6-4 RMAC) following an 87-64 win at home over Western Colorado. In the victory over the Mountaineers, the Yellow Jackets out-scored the opponents 48-27 in the second half and saw a total of five players reach double figures in the contest.
• A pair of notable performances in the win over WCU included a career-high of 16 points and five rebounds for Jack Haggett, as he went 6-of-7 from the field, 1-of-1 from 3-point range, and 3-of-4 from the free throw line for his fourth game of the season in double digits. Also making a big impact was Joel Speckman who posted his first double-double of the season with ten points and ten rebounds in the victory, as it was just his second double-double of his career. The sophomore forward went 4-of-5 from the field and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe in the contest while he also added a pair of assists, a pair of blocks, and three steals against the Mountaineers. Additionally, Speckman has now scored in double figures in three of the last four games for BHSU.
• Black Hills State was picked to finish fourth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 157 points in the vote by the head coaches. They are currently alone in fifth place in the conference standings with a 6-4 record.
• Through 18 games in the 2024-25 season BHSU is averaging 77.7 points, 35.9 rebounds, 12.9 assists, 5.1 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 48.9 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from 3-point range, and 74.8 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents have averaged 69.6 points, 32.5 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 7.6 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 40.9 percent from the field, 33.2 percent from 3-point range, and 76.3 percent from the free throw line.
• BHSU has knocked down at least six or more 3-pointers in each RMAC contest this season, and after doing so in both games this past weekend on seven occasions have hit double figures this year. As a team the Yellow Jackets are 99-of-241 (41.1%) and are averaging 9.9 made 3-pointers in the ten league match-ups. Prior to the winter break BHSU hit a season-high of 16 3-pointers in a victory at Colorado Christian, going 16-of-34 for a 47.1 percent clip.
• The Yellow Jackets currently rank tenth in NCAA Division II in 3-point percentage (38.9%), 21^st in effective field goal percentage (56.4%), 24^th in field goal percentage defense (40.9%), and 29^th in field goal percentage (48.9%). They currently lead the RMAC in field goal percentage defense and 3-point percentage.
• Caelin Hearne continues to lead the team with an average of 15.7 points per game on the year, which ranks seventh in the RMAC, while he also adds 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. He has scored in double figures in 16 of the 17 games he's played in this year for the Yellow Jackets, including three times in which he scored 20 or more points and a career-best 30 points in a win over Sioux Falls. While having made 99-of-208 field goal attempts this season, he is shooting 47.6 percent from the field which is eighth-best in the conference. Additionally, his 41.5 percent shooting from 3-point range and 34 total made shots from beyond the arc have helped propel him into the top-10 of the RMAC in 3-pointers per game as he currently ranks tenth in the league with 2.00 per game. On eight occasions he has knocked down three or more shots from distance, including a season-best performance of 5-of-6 shooting from deep against USF. He has also secured four or more rebounds six times and dished out three or more assists six times.
• Cam Lowe has also added a spark for the Yellow Jackets this year as he is averaging 14.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game while shooting the ball 51.1 percent from the field, 38.6 percent from 3-point range, and 84.0 percent from the free throw line. Among RMAC leaders he currently leads the conference in defensive rebounds per game while also ranking third in total rebounds, fourth in rebounds per game, and fifth in field goal percentage. He's scored in double figures 13 times on the year, including in eight of the last nine outings. He poured in a career-high of 28 points in a thrilling overtime win at UCCS, shooting 7-of-9 from the field, 6-of-7 from 3-point range, and 8-of-8 from the charity stripe, one of five 20-point performances this year. Additionally, as one of the conference's most active rebounders, he's secured eight or more rebounds in ten contests this season, including ten or more in five games which includes a career-high of 14 against Augustana. He's posted a team-high four double-doubles this season, including three which occurred in the last four games.
• Tristan Hurdle has emerged as one of the top sharpshooters in the nation as he leads the RMAC and is fifth in all of NCAA Division II with a 3-point percentage of 48.8 on 40-of-82 shooting from beyond the arc on the year. Additionally, in the ten league games alone he is shooting the ball at a 57.9 percent clip from deep as he has connected on 33-of-57 shot attempts. He also ranks second in the league in 3-pointers per game (2.86) and is fifth in total 3-pointers (40). He's connected on multiple 3-pointers in 11 games this year, including nine consecutive games. On the season he is averaging 11.1 points and 2.2 rebounds. Hurdle has scored in double figures seven of the last eight games and has twice reached the 20-point mark. His 27-point performance against Regis set a new career-high in points and made 3-pointers with 8-of-12 shooting from deep. On the glass he has secured a season-high of five boards on three occasions.
• The facilitator and defensive leader for the Green & Gold is Jaeton Hackley, who leads the team in assists (2.7) and steals (1.5) while adding 10.9 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. The redshirt sophomore has scored in double figures 11 times this season, which includes a career-high of 19 points in the win over UMary when he shot 8-of-15 from the field. Among his six games this season with four or more rebounds, he secured a career-high of seven boards in the match-up against South Dakota Mines. His active defense has resulted in eight multi-steal games, including a career-high of four steals in the victory over Chadron State, while he also shattered a career-high with ten assists. His first career double-double with 13 points and ten assists against CSC marked the fifth time this year he dished out four or more assists in a game. It was the first time since February 10, 2023, that a Yellow Jacket tallied double digit assists when Adam Moussa notched a triple-double against UCCS. He currently ranks eighth in the RMAC in steals per game (1.50).
• John Shanklin has been a defensive threat for opponents this season, ranking fourth in the RMAC in both total blocked shots (21) and blocked shots per game (1.17), while he also adds 6.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game. He has posted a blocked shot in five of the last six games and in 13 games overall this year. On seven occasions he has tallied multiple blocks, which includes a season-high of three against MSU Moorhead. While he has scored in double figures three times this year, he is shooting the ball an efficient 50-of-68 from the field for a 73.5 percent clip which includes 30-of-38 (78.9%) shooting in conference play. Additionally, he has secured five or more rebounds on nine occasions.
• Ryan Thompson is in his seventh season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding the Yellow Jackets to a record of 131-62 during his career.

CHADRON STATE STORYLINES

• Chadron State looks to get back to .500 both overall and in league play on Thursday night as they enter the match-up with a record of 9-10 (5-6 RMAC) following a 53-47 loss at South Dakota Mines on Tuesday night.
• The Eagles have been picked to finish 15^th in the RMAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 32 points in the vote by the league's head coaches. They are currently ninth place in the conference standings, posting a 5-6 record thus far.
• Through 19 games this season CSC is averaging 74.5 points, 36.7 rebounds, 12.6 assists, 6.3 steals, and 2.6 blocks per game while shooting the ball 45.4 percent from the field, 34.2 percent from 3-point range, and 76.6 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 72.4 points, 35.0 rebounds, 15.0 assists, 7.5 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting the ball 41.7 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from 3-point range, and 73.6 percent from the free throw line.
• Chadron State ranks 20^th nationally in NCAA Division II 3-point percentage defense (29.6%), 31^st in free throw percentage (76.6%), and 38^th in field goal percentage defense (41.7%). They currently lead the RMAC in free throw percentage and are second in field goal percentage defense and 3-point percentage defense.
• Zy Wright leads the Eagles in scoring with 13.2 points and adds 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. He's scored in double figures in six consecutive games and has reached the mark in 11 total games this year. He notched season-high of 34 points against New Mexico Highlands, shooting the ball 11-of-16 from the field, 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and 8-of-9 from the free throw line. On the glass he has grabbed five or more rebounds in 13 games. Wright has notched one double-double on the year, a 10-point, 11-rebound performance against South Dakota Mines.
• Jalen Thomas is second on the team with 11.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game this season. The graduate transfer from Tarleton State has scored in double figures nine times this year, which includes four 20-point games and a season-high of 23 points against Regis. Additionally, he has grabbed six or more rebounds on nine occasions, including a season-high of nine against Texas A&M Kingsville, and has had three or more assists in nine contests. He dished out a season-high of 11 assists against Central Christian (Kansas). He currently ranks third in the RMAC in total assists (67), fourth in assists per game, and is ninth in assist/turnover ratio (1.14).
• Rounding out the five players in double figures scoring for the Eagles this season include Darrius Miles (10.3), Julio Phipps (10.1), and Trey Ballard (10.1). Miles has scored in double figures in three of the last four games, while Ballard has been in double figures five of the last six contests.
• Chris Francis is in his first season as the head coach at Chadron State, guiding the Eagles to a 9-10 record thus far. Overall, he is in his tenth season as a collegiate head coach, spending the prior nine years at Science & Arts Oklahoma as he has amassed a career record of 184-105 during his two stops. 

SERIES HISTORY

• Saturday will mark the 206^th all-time meeting on the hardwood between Black Hills State and Chadron State as the Eagles hold the advantage 122-83.
• With an 89-69 victory in A2 Arena on December 7, 2024, the Yellow Jackets will now look to complete the season sweep of CSC as they have now won 13 of the last 15 meetings in the series dating back to January of 2016.