SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team looks to carry the momentum of four wins in their last five match-ups on the road as they are set to begin a 4-game road trip by facing No. 8/10 Colorado School of Mines, the current RMAC leaders, on Thursday, February 13. Along with their recent success over the past three weeks, the Yellow Jackets also look to continue a string of success against the Orediggers as they seek their fifth win over a nationally ranked Mines squad in the last three seasons as the team's tip-off at 7:30 p.m. in Lockridge Arena in Golden, Colorado.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Thursday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Golden, Colo. – Lockridge Arena
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters the first game of a 4-game road stretch with a 13-9 (9-5 RMAC) record and has won three straight and four of their last five contests after another come from behind victory in a 75-66 triumph over UCCS. After falling behind by as many as 13 points early in the second half, the Yellow Jackets responded with a 16-2 scoring run to regain the lead while holding the Mountain Lions to 5-of-31 (16.1%) from the field and 1-of-10 (10.0%) from 3-point range.
• During the current 4-game home winning streak, the Yellow Jackets have taken over in the second half with their defense, outscoring Western Colorado, South Dakota Mines, CSU Pueblo, and UCCS by a combined 149-101 in the final 20 minutes of the contests. The stifling defense held those opponents to just 29-of-108 (26.9%) from the field and 2-of-29 (0.1%) from 3-point range. The 44 points by Hardrockers were a season-low for the Green & Gold last Saturday.
• After a pair of tough non-conference losses in the final seconds early in the season, the Yellow Jackets are now 6-2 in A2 Arena in RMAC action. Additionally, BHSU is 73-18 (80.2%) against RMAC opponents at home since 2017-18.
• 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 tied with Fort Lewis for fourth place in the conference standings with a 9-5 record. The Yellow Jackets are searching for their eighth consecutive 10-win season in conference play, dating back to the 2017-18 season.
• The Yellow Jackets are receiving votes in this week's South Central Regional D2CSC Media Poll, the first time they are receiving votes or ranked since they were tied for No. 10 on November 18, 2024.
• Through 22 games in the 2024-25 season BHSU is averaging 76.9 points, 36.0 rebounds, 13.0 assists, 5.3 steals, and 3.9 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 48.7 percent from the field, 37.8 percent from 3-point range, and 72.0 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents have averaged 69.2 points, 33.1 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 7.2 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 40.7 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from 3-point range, and 76.6 percent from the free throw line.
• BHSU has knocked down at least six or more 3-pointers in each RMAC contest this season, and on eight occasions have connected on ten or more made shots from beyond the arc in a league game this year. As a team the Yellow Jackets are 130-of-335 (38.8%) and are averaging 9.3 made 3-pointers in the 14 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 16^th in NCAA Division II in field goal percentage defense (40.7%), 28^th in effective field goal percentage (56.1%) and field goal percentage (48.7%), 29^th in defensive rebounds per game (27.95), and 35^th in 3-point percentage (37.8%).
• Cam Lowe is now tied as the Yellow Jackets leading scorer (14.9) and is the top rebounder (7.9) while he adds 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting the ball 51.1 percent from the field, 38.1 percent from 3-point range, and 79.4 percent from the free throw line. Among RMAC leaders he currently leads the conference in defensive rebounds per game (6.86) while also ranking third in total rebounds (173) and rebounds per game, fourth in field goal percentage, seventh in field goals made (117), and ninth in both points (328) and points per game. He's scored in double figures 16 times on the year, including in 11 of the last 13 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 six 20-point performances this year. Additionally, as one of the conference's most active rebounders, he's secured eight or more rebounds in 14 contests this season, including ten or more in seven games which includes a career-high of 14 against Augustana. He's posted a team-high six double-doubles this season, most recently posting five within the last eight games.
• As the regular season begins to wind down, Caelin Hearne officially enters milestone watch status as he closes in on becoming the next 1,000 point scorer in Black Hills State history with 922 points and counting. Among the top scoring threats for the Green & Gold all season long he currently averages 14.9 points while adding 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists per game, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. He has scored in double figures in 18 of the 21 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 117-of-251 field goal attempts this season, he is shooting 46.6 percent from the field which is ninth-best in the conference. Additionally, with 39 made 3-pointers, he is one of three BHSU sharpshooters to have made 30 or more shots from distance this season while shooting 37.0 percent or better as he is knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a 37.9 percent clip. 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 seven times and dished out three or more assists six times.
• The facilitator and defensive leader for the Green & Gold is Jaeton Hackley, who leads the team in assists (3.4) and steals (1.5) while adding 11.4 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. The redshirt sophomore has scored in double figures in four of the last five games and 14 times this season, which includes a career-high of 22 points in the win over CSU Pueblo last Thursday night when he shot 10-of-20 from the field. Among his six games this season with four or more rebounds, he secured a career-high of seven boards in the first match-up against South Dakota Mines. His active defense has resulted in ten multi-steal games, including a career-high of four steals in the victory over Chadron State in December, while he also shattered a career-high with ten assists in the same contest. His first career double-double with 13 points and ten assists against CSC marked 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 is now up to ten games of four or more assists this season after doing so in now five consecutive games as he averages 5.8 in the last five games. He currently ranks fifth in the RMAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.57), total assists (74), and assists per game, while also ranking sixth in both total steals (32) and steals per game.
• Tristan Hurdle has emerged as one of the top sharpshooters in the nation as he leads both the RMAC and NCAA Division II with a 3-point percentage of 50.0 on 53-of-106 shooting from beyond the arc on the year. Additionally, in the 13 league games alone he is shooting the ball at a 56.8 percent clip from deep as he has connected on 46-of-81 shot attempts. He also ranks second in the league in 3-pointers per game (2.94) and is third in total 3-pointers (53). He's connected on multiple 3-pointers in 14 games this year, including 12 of the last 13 games, as he hit five shots from beyond the arc in back-to-back wins over CSU Pueblo and UCCS as he reached five or more 3-pointers for the fifth time this year. On the season he is averaging 11.0 points and 2.3 rebounds. Hurdle has scored in double figures nine times 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 seven boards against the ThunderWolves last week.
• John Shanklin has been a defensive threat for opponents this season, ranking fourth in the RMAC in both total blocked shots (27) and blocked shots per game (1.23), while he also adds 5.7 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. He has posted a blocked shot in ten of the last 11 games and in 18 games overall this year. On ten occasions, including both wins over CSUP and UCCS this past weekend, he has tallied multiple blocks. He recorded a season-high of three against No. 4/3 MSU Moorhead. While he has scored in double figures three times this year, he is shooting the ball an efficient 55-of-78 from the field for a 70.5 percent clip which includes 35-of-48 (72.9%) 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 134-63 during his career.

#8/10 COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES STORYLINES

• Colorado School of Mines enters this weekend's match-ups with a record of 19-3 (13-1 RMAC) following a 60-57 win at Westminster last Saturday for their fourth consecutive win.
• Mines was the overwhelming preseason favorite in the RMAC Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll, receiving 191 points and 11 first place votes. They currently sit atop the conference with a 13-1 record.
• The Orediggers are currently ranked No. 8 in the NABC Coaches' Poll and No. 10 in the D2CSC Media Poll. Additionally, they are ranked No. 2 in this week's South Central Region D2CSC Media Poll, receiving one first place vote.
• Through 22 games this season CSM is averaging 83.1 points, 35.4 rebounds, 19.0 assists, 8.1 steals, and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting the ball 50.0 percent from the field, 38.3 percent from 3-point range, and 75.3 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 69.0 points, 30.3 rebounds, 12.0 assists, 7.5 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting the ball 43.9 percent from the field, 30.9 percent from 3-point range, and 70.4 percent from the free throw line.
• Colorado School of Mines currently ranks fourth in NCAA Division II in bench points (39.27), sixth in effective field goal percentage (58.2%), seventh in assists per game, eighth in scoring margin (+14.1), 13^th in field goal percentage, and 20^th in 3-point percentage.
• Returning First Team All-RMAC selection, Majok Deng, leads the way for the Orediggers as he averages 16.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steal per game while shooting the ball 46.7 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from 3-point range, and 88.9 percent from the free throw line. Ranking fifth in the RMAC in scoring average, he's scored in double figures 15 times this year, reaching the 20-point mark six times, and once reaching the 30-point mark as he posted a season-high 33 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the field, 4-of-7 from 3-point range, and 11-of-11 at the charity stripe against Adams State. Averaging 1.95 3-pointers per game, tenth-best in the conference, he's connected from deep multiple times on 12 occasions and four times knocked down a season-high of four shots from beyond the arc. One of three players on the team to average more than four rebounds a game, he has secured four or more boards in 12 games. Additionally, Deng leads the RMAC and ranks 17^th nationally in free throw percentage and is eighth in the league in field goal percentage.
• Riley Schroeder, another veteran leader for the Orediggers adds 11.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game while shooting the ball 52.2 percent from the field, 40.5 percent from 3-point range, and 78.1 percent from the free throw line. He's scored in double figures 13 times this season, including a season-high of 20 points as he knocked down six 3-pointers against Angelo State in December. The six made shots from beyond the arc against ASU was one of seven games this year he hit multiple 3-pointers. He's grabbed four or more rebounds on seven occasions, including a season-high of nine against Fort Lewis, and dished out three or more assists seven times which included a season-high of five twice.
• Rounding out the trio of double digit scorers for Colorado School of Mines is Markus Pastorcic-Straun as he averages 10.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting the ball 52.3 percent from the field and 78.0 percent from the free throw line. He's scored in double figures in 12 games this season, including a season-high of 24 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the field against No. 3/2 West Liberty. He's secured four or more rebounds in eight games, dished out three or more assists in ten games, which includes a season-high of seven against CSU Pueblo, and has collected a season-high of three steals in three games this year.
• Grant Pressly is one of the top facilitators in the RMAC, leading the conference and ranking 22^nd nationally in assist/turnover ratio (2.90) while also ranking second in the conference in assists per game (4.0) and fourth in total assists (84). He's dished out four or more assists in 11 games, including a season-high of ten against Northern New Mexico. Additionally, he has recorded one or fewer turnovers in 13 games. As the second-leading rebounder on the team he has grabbed four or more boards in 13 contests, including a season-high of nine on two occasions. He adds 3.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting the ball 48.7 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from 3-point range, and 95.0 percent from the free throw line.
• Pryor Orser, the RMAC's all-time winningest head coach, is in his 24^th season at Colorado School of Mines, guiding the Orediggers to a record of 464-230 during his career. CSM's next win would give Orser his 12^th 20-win season at the helm in Golden.

SERIES HISTORY

• Since the 2011-12 season, Colorado School of Mines holds a 15-8 advantage in the series, however, Black Hills State has won five of the last six match-ups. Among those five recent wins for the Yellow Jackets, four occurred against a nationally ranked Oredigger squad.
• In the most recent match-up on February 9, 2024, BHSU knocked off No. 17/22 Colorado School of Mines as Matthew Ragsdale connected on a 3-pointer at the buzzer for an 86-83 victory in Lockridge Arena in Golden, Colorado.