SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team pushed their home win streak to five games on Thursday night as they defeated Adams State 100-93 inside of A2 Arena. The Yellow Jackets reached the century mark for just the fifth time in program history with
Cam Lowe spearheading the red-hot shooting from beyond the arc, matching the BHSU and RMAC single game record for 3-point percentage, going a perfect 7-of-7 (100.0%) from deep on the night. As the redshirt freshman contributed seven baskets from beyond the arc, the Green & Gold hit a season-high of 18 in the contest while shooting 60.0 percent from deep, tying for the second most 3-pointers in a single game and the second-best single game shooting percentage from beyond the arc in program history (min. 10 made). Additionally, adding to the monumental shooting performance, was the efficient ball movement that resulted in 24 assists, the second-most in a single game in program history for the Yellow Jackets and the third time this season that they have dished out 20 or more in a contest.
QUICK DETAILS
Score: Black Hills State 100, Adams State 93
Team Records: Black Hills State 16-11 (12-7 RMAC), Adams State 12-15 (7-12 RMAC)
Attendance: 1,204
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Starting with a right-handed layup by Joel Speckman off an assist from Caelin Hearne on the opening possession of the game, the Yellow Jackets got out to a quick start as they held a 10-0 advantage after a BJ Woodruff right-corner 3-pointer off a kick-out pass from Jaeton Hackley with 17:45 to pay in the first half. Not only did Speckman give BHSU the first points of the game, but in the 2:15 time span of the opening run he recorded three blocked shots to keep Adams State off the board in the early minutes.
- After Adams State scored their first points of the game with a top of the key 3-pointer by Jaylen Alexander, which received a friendly roll on the cylinder, Cam Lowe hit back-to-back 3-pointers off assists from Hackley and Tristan Hurdle to push the lead to 16-3 with 16:00 on the clock and setting up what would become a massive night from beyond the arc for the redshirt freshman.
- The Grizzlies clawed back within five points (18-13) with a 10-2 scoring run that was capped by a Cameron Kimble free throw with 13:51 to play in the opening half, however, the three ball quickly pushed the Black Hills State advantage back to double digits as a left-corner 3-pointer by Blake Volmer off an assist from Hackley sparked a corresponding 11-2 scoring run that was capped by a right-wing 3-pointer by Hurdle off a kick-out pass from Speckman to make it a 29-15 ball game as 10:03 remained in the first half.
- BHSU led by as many as 15 points on a pair of occasions in the first half on baskets by Hearne and Hackley to make it 36-21 and 38-23 respectively, however, ASU fought back to within seven points (46-39) with a 16-8 run over the next three and a half minutes. Despite the late rally from Adams State, five unanswered points with a pair of free throws by Hearne and a right-wing 3-pointer by Jack Haggett off a Deegan Williams assist gave the Yellow Jackets a 12 point edge (51-39) in the closing minute. A pair of free throws by ASU's Luke Williams with six seconds to play brought the halftime score to 51-41 in favor of the home team.
- The margin teetered back-and-forth in the early stages of the second half between a double-digit and single-digit advantage for BHSU, however, a pair of free throws by Haggett following a flagrant one foul by John Harge sparked a run nearly three minutes into the second half. With three 3-pointers by Lowe and additional baskets from beyond the arc by both Hackley and Hearne, the Yellow Jackets used a 21-11 scoring run over a span of 6:17 of game time to push their lead to 17 points (78-61), their largest of the game with 10:49 to play.
- Black Hills State maintained their double figure lead up until a right-corner 3-pointer by Ta'veus Randle grew a scoring run to a 20-7 response for Adams State to trim the BHSU lead to just seven points (85-78) with 6:04 remaining in the game. The scoring run would continue to grow for the Grizzlies in the closing minutes as they got within two points (94-92) with just 1:13 to play as a turnaround hook shot by Alexander in the paint capped a 31-16 scoring run for ASU.
- Despite the valiant effort by the Grizzlies, it was 3-pointer by Lowe from the top of the key that shut the door with 54 seconds to play, pushing the BHSU lead back to two possessions with a five point edge (97-92). With a pair of free throws by Hearne to reach the century mark with just four ticks of the clock left, the Yellow Jackets outscored ASU 6-1 in the final minute of the contest.
BLACK HILLS STATE STATISTICAL LEADERS
Cam Lowe: 23 points, 7-of-7 3-pointers, 9 rebounds, 1 assist
Caelin Hearne: 17 points, 3-of-6 3-pointers, 3 assists, 1 rebound, 1 block
Jaeton Hackley: 14 points, 6-of-12 field goals, 7 assists, 2 rebounds
Jack Haggett: 13 points, 4-of-6 field goals, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
Tristan Hurdle: 10 points, 2-of-6 3-pointers, 1 assist
UP NEXT
The 2024-25 regular season will come to a close on Saturday, March 1, when Black Hills State will host New Mexico Highlands on senior day with a 3 p.m. tip-off inside A2 Arena.
