SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team is prepped for what may become a shootout between two of the top shooting teams in the RMAC as they visit Westminster for a Thursday night battle in Behnken Field House. Both BHSU and WU rank in the top-30 nationally in both field goal percentage and 3-point field goal percentage, but Black Hills State looks to take control and add to what has already been four wins in their last five outings since the month of February started.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Thursday, February 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah – Behnken Field House
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State begins weekend road trip of the regular season with a record of 14-10 (10-6 RMAC) after completing the sweep of Regis with a 77-62 victory in Denver last Saturday. The win over the Rangers snapped the RMAC's longest winning streak of ten games and kept the Yellow Jackets as the only team to defeat RU in the 2025 calendar year. BHSU took control of the game with a 10-3 scoring run entering the break and went on to lead by as many as 21 points in the second half as they shot the ball 51.5 percent in the final 20 minutes of action.
• 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 UCCS and Fort Lewis for fourth place in the conference standings with a 10-6 record. The Yellow Jackets have secured their eighth consecutive 10-win season in conference play, dating back to the 2017-18 season.
• For the second consecutive week the Yellow Jackets are receiving votes in the South Central Regional D2CSC Media Poll.
• Through 24 games in the 2024-25 season BHSU is averaging 76.9 points, 35.9 rebounds, 13.2 assists, 5.3 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 48.6 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from 3-point range, and 72.3 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents have averaged 69.6 points, 32.8 rebounds, 9.2 assists, 7.0 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 41.2 percent from the field, 34.1 percent from 3-point range, and 76.9 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 nine 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 149-of-384 (38.8%) and are averaging 9.3 made 3-pointers in the 16 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 21^st in NCAA Division II in field goal percentage defense, 25^th in effective field goal percentage (56.0%), 27^th in 3-point percentage, 28^th in field goal percentage, and 32^nd in defensive rebounds per game (27.75). They also currently lead the RMAC in field goal percentage defense.
• 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 951 points and counting. Among the top scoring threats for the Green & Gold all season long he currently averages a team-best 14.9 points while adding 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists per game, 0.7 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game. He has scored in double figures in 19 of the 23 games he's played in this year for the Yellow Jackets, including four times in which he scored 20 or more points and a career-best 30 points in a win over Sioux Falls. While having made 128-of-277 field goal attempts this season, he is shooting 46.2 percent from the field which is eighth-best in the conference. Additionally, with 45 made 3-pointers, he is one of three BHSU sharpshooters to have made 40 or more shots from distance this season while shooting 35.0 percent or better as he is knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a 38.5 percent clip. Averaging 1.96 3-pointers per game, which ranks tenth in the conference, on nine 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 eight times and dished out three or more assists six times.
• Cam Lowe has emerged as another top scorer for the Yellow Jackets, averaging 14.8 points while he is the top rebounder with 7.8 rebounds per game. He adds 1.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting the ball 50.0 percent from the field, 35.3 percent from 3-point range, and 78.3 percent from the free throw line. Among RMAC leaders he currently leads the conference in defensive rebounds per game (6.83), is third in total rebounds (187) and rebounds per game, fifth in field goal made (130), sixth in field goal percentage, and tenth in points per game. He's scored in double figures 18 times on the year, including in 13 of the last 15 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 15 contests this season, including ten or more in eight games which includes a career-high of 14 against Augustana. He's posted a team-high seven double-doubles this season, most recently posting six within the last ten games.
• The facilitator and defensive leader for the Green & Gold is Jaeton Hackley, who leads the team in assists (3.5) and steals (1.4) while adding 12.0 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. The redshirt sophomore has scored in double figures in six of the last seven games and 16 times this season, which includes a pair of 20-point outings in his last four games. He scored a career-high of 24 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, 3-of-3 from 3-point range, and 7-of-7 from the free throw line against No. 8/10 Colorado School of Mines last week. Among his seven 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 11 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 11 games of four or more assists this season after doing so in now six of the last seven games as he averages 5.4 in the last seven games. He currently ranks fifth in the RMAC in assist/turnover ratio (1.69), total assists (83), and assists 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 49.1 on 56-of-114 shooting from beyond the arc on the year. Additionally, in the 15 league games alone he is shooting the ball at a 55.1 percent clip from deep as he has connected on 49-of-89 shot attempts. He also ranks second in the league in 3-pointers per game (2.80) and is third in total 3-pointers (56). He's connected on multiple 3-pointers in 15 games this year, including 13 of the last 15 games. Two weeks ago, 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 10.5 points and 2.2 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.
• John Shanklin has been a defensive threat for opponents this season, ranking fourth in the RMAC in both total blocked shots (30) and blocked shots per game (1.25), while he also adds 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He has posted a blocked shot in 11 of the last 13 games and in 19 games overall this year. On 11 occasions he has tallied multiple blocks, and he matched a career-high of three against No. 8/10 Colorado School of Mines last week Thursday after previously reaching the mark against No. 4/3 MSU Moorhead earlier this year. While he has scored in double figures three times this year, he is shooting the ball an efficient 60-of-84 from the field for a 71.4 percent clip which includes 40-of-54 (74.1%) shooting in conference play. Additionally, he has secured five or more rebounds on nine occasions.
• Another threat in the post for the Yellow Jackets is Joel Speckman, who ranks third in the RMAC in offensive rebounds per game (2.38) and is seventh in blocks per game (0.81). He adds 7.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game, while shooting the ball 58.1 percent from the field. He has scored in double figures in five of the last seven games he has played in and has seven games total in double figures this year. He has secured five or more rebounds in 15 games this season, including reaching ten or more three times. His 10-point, 10-rebound performance against Western Colorado was his first double-double of the season and just the second of his career. He has posted multiple blocked shots in five games, three of which he recorded a season-high of three in the contest.
• Ryan Thompson is in his seventh season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding the Yellow Jackets to a record of 135-64 during his career.

WESTMINSTER STORYLINES

• Westminster currently holds a record of 12-12 (6-10 RMAC) on the season following a 103-98 victory at Adams State last weekend to snap a 3-game losing streak. The Griffins saw seven players score in double figures in the win over the Grizzlies as they shot 38-of-67 (56.7%) from the field, 11-of-18 (61.1%) from 3-point range, and 16-of-19 (84.2%) from the free throw line in the contest.
• WU was picked 12^th in the RMAC Preseason Men's Basketball Coaches' Poll, receiving 48 points. They are currently tied for ninth in the conference standings with Colorado Christian as they boast a 6-10 league record.
• Through 24 games this season WU is averaging 76.9 points, 32.6 rebounds, 15.9 assists, 6.0 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game while shooting the ball 50.0 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from 3-point range, and 74.4 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 74.0 points, 29.3 rebounds, 14.8 assists, 6.5 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game while shooting the ball 46.3 percent from the field, 37.3 percent from 3-point range, and 73.3 percent from the free throw line.
• The Griffins currently rank 12^th in NCAA Division II in field goal percentage and 16^th in 3-point percentage.
• Chase Potter leads Westminster in both scoring (13.8) and rebounding (4.1), while adding 1.6 assists and 0.8 steals per game. He is second in the RMAC with an 86.4 free throw percentage, knocking down 70-of-81 from the charity stripe this season. He has scored in double figures 16 times this season, five times reaching the 20-point mark, and three times reaching the 30-point mark. He scored a season-high of 31 points against Adams State in January, going 11-of-13 from the field, 3-of-4 from 3-point range, and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. He has grabbed four or more rebounds 13 times this season, including a season-high of ten boards that resulted in his lone double-double of the year as he added 16 points against Park (Arizona).
• Simon Akena is tied for the team lead with 13.8 points per game while adding 3.3 rebounds, and 1.8 assists. He ranks seventh in the RMAC in field goal percentage, connecting on 122-of-251 shot attempts for a 48.6 percent clip. He has scored in double figures 15 times this season, including reaching the 20-point mark four times on the year. He poured in a season-high of 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field, 2-of-6 from 3-point range, and 5-of-11 from the free throw line, against Fort Lewis in January. He has grabbed four or more rebounds in ten games, while also dishing out three or more assists in eight games.
• Rounding out the double digit scorers for the Griffins is Donaval Avila who averages 12.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting the ball 52.2 percent from the field, 43.6 percent from 3-point range, and 86.2 percent from the free throw line. His free throw percentage currently ranks third in the league as he has knocked down 75-of-87 this season at the charity stripe. He has scored in double figures in five of the last six games, totaling 15 games in double figures this season. He has reached the 20-point mark in two games, including a season-high of 26 points against Colorado Christian to close out January as he shot the ball 7-of-15 from the field, 1-of-4 from 3-point range, and 11-of-13 from the free throw line. He has secured five or more rebounds in ten games this season, while posting a season-high of ten against Colorado School of Mines. He also dished our three or more assists in seven games and collected two or more steals in nine games.
• Norm Parrish is in his tenth season as the head coach at Westminster, guiding the Griffins to a record of 131-127 during his career.

SERIES HISTORY

• Since the 2015-16 season Black Hills State owns a 7-4 advantage in the series, while also winning four of the last five contests.
• The Yellow Jackets will look to avenge last season's loss in Salt Lake City, Utah, as the Griffins defeated the Green & Gold 82-69 in the Behnken Field House on January 20, 2024.