SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Black Hills State University men's basketball team seems to be gaining momentum at just the right time as only seven regular season contests remain, having won three straight at home and three of their last four overall entering the match-up with UCCS. The Yellow Jackets will look to secure their first sweep of the season when they welcome the Mountain Lions to A2 Arena for a 3 p.m. tip-off on Saturday, February 8.
 
GAME DETAILS
Date & Time: Saturday, February 8 at 3 p.m.
Location: Spearfish, S.D. – A2 Arena
Promotion: Hawaiian Night – While it may be chilly outside, the action is heating up inside A2 Arena! Help Black Hills State athletics celebrate Hawaiian Night by breaking out the Hawaiian and beach gear, continuing to give the Yellow Jackets one of the top RMAC home court advantages as men's and women's basketball hosts UCCS. Additionally, one lucky winner of the 50/50 drawing will not only win the cash prize but will also win a year's worth of free smoothies' courtesy of Tropical Smoothie Café!
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters the final game of a three week stretch that included five home contests with a record of 12-9 (8-5) following a 75-70 win in an all-out battle against CSU Pueblo to win their third game in their last four outings.
• During the current 3-game home winning streak, the Yellow Jackets have taken over in the second half with their defense, outscoring Western Colorado, South Dakota Mines, and CSU Pueblo by a combined 112-77 in the final 20 minutes of the contests. The stifling defense held those opponents to just 24-of-77 (31.2%) from the field and 1-of-19 (5.3%) 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 5-2 in A2 Arena in RMAC action. Additionally, the BHSU is 72-18 (80.0%) against RMAC opponents at home since Ryan Thompson took over in 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 for fifth place in the conference standings with an 8-5 record.
• Through 21 games in the 2024-25 season BHSU is averaging 77.0 points, 35.8 rebounds, 12.9 assists, 5.4 steals, and 3.7 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 48.5 percent from the field, 37.9 percent from 3-point range, and 72.1 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents have averaged 69.3 points, 33.2 rebounds, 8.9 assists, 7.1 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 41.0 percent from the field, 34.3 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 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 124-of-318 (39.0%) and are averaging 9.5 made 3-pointers in the 13 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 25^th in NCAA Division II in field goal percentage defense (41.0%), 26^th in effective field goal percentage (55.9%), 32^nd in field goal percentage (48.5%) and 3-point percentage (37.9%), and 35^th in defensive rebounds per game (27.67).
• Cam Lowe now stands as the Yellow Jackets leading scorer (15.1) and rebounder (7.8) while he adds 1.7 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting the ball 51.1 percent from the field, 38.8 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 (6.81) while also ranking third in total rebounds (163) and rebounds per game, fourth in field goal percentage, seventh in field goals made (112), eighth in both points (318) and points per game, ninth in total 3-pointers (40), and 12^th in free throw percentage. He's scored in double figures 15 times on the year, including in ten of the last 12 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 13 contests this season, including ten or more in six games which includes a career-high of 14 against Augustana. He's posted a team-high five double-doubles this season, most recently posting four within the last seven 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 905 points and counting. Among the top scoring threats for the Green & Gold all season long he currently averages 14.8 points while adding 2.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists per game, 0.7 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. He has scored in double figures in 17 of the 20 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 110-of-238 field goal attempts this season, he is shooting 46.2 percent from the field which is ninth-best in the conference. Additionally, with 38 made 3-pointers, he is one of three BHSU sharpshooters to have made 30 or more shots from distance this season while shooting 38.0 percent or better as he is knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a 38.4 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 six 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 (3.3) and steals (1.5) while adding 11.6 points and 3.0 rebounds per game. The redshirt sophomore has scored in double figures in four consecutive games and now 14 times this season, which includes a career-high of 22 points in the win over CSU Pueblo on 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 nine games of four or more assists this season after posting seven in back-to-back games against SDM and CSUP this past week. He currently ranks fifth in the RMAC in five different stat categories, including total steals (32), steals per game, assists (69), assists per game, and assist/turnover ratio (1.57).
• 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 49.5 on 48-of-97 shooting from beyond the arc on the year. Additionally, in the 12 league games alone he is shooting the ball at a 56.9 percent clip from deep as he has connected on 41-of-72 shot attempts. He also ranks second in the league in 3-pointers per game (2.82) and is third in total 3-pointers (48). He's connected on multiple 3-pointers in 13 games this year, including 11 of the last 12 games which saw him reach five or more 3-pointers for the fourth time this season as he hit five in the win over CSU Pueblo. On the season he is averaging 10.6 points and 2.4 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 on Thursday night.
• John Shanklin has been a defensive threat for opponents this season, ranking third in the RMAC in both total blocked shots (25) and blocked shots per game (1.19), while he also adds 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He has posted a blocked shot in eight of the last nine games and in 16 games overall this year. On eight occasions he has tallied multiple blocks, which includes 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 54-of-75 from the field for a 72.0 percent clip which includes 34-of-45 (75.6%) 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 133-63 during his career. 

UCCS STORYLINES

• UCCS hits the mid-point of their current 3-game road trip with a record of 14-7 (8-5 RMAC) on the season following a win at South Dakota Mines by a score of 65-54 on Thursday night. The victory was the Mountain Lions third straight and their fourth in the last five games.
• The Mountain Lions have re-entered the D2CSC South Central Region Media Poll this week after receiving votes the past two weeks as they appear in a tie for No. 10 on Monday morning with Eastern New Mexico.
• The Mountain Lions have been picked to finish seventh in the RMAC Men's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 32 points in the vote by the league's head coaches. They are currently tied for fifth place in the conference standings with Black Hills State with a record of 8-5.
• Through 21 games this season UCCS is averaging 76.9 points, 35.0 rebounds, 14.5 assists, 5.8 steals, and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting the ball 47.5 percent from the field, 31.6 percent from 3-point range, and 76.6 percent from the free throw line. Their opponents are averaging 72.4 points, 32.5 rebounds, 12.6 assists, 7.0 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting the ball 45.0 percent from the field, 34.6 percent from 3-point range, and 67.8 percent from the free throw line.
• The Mountain Lions currently rank sixth in NCAA Division II in fewest fouls per game (13.0) and 31^st in free throw percentage (76.6%).
• Leading the way for the Mountain Lions is graduate student William Becker who is averaging 15.6 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.0 steal per game. He's knocked down 124-of-180 shot attempts this year, leading the RMAC and ranking sixth in the nation with a 68.9 percent field goal percentage, while he also ranks sixth in the conference with 83.9 percent shooting at the free throw line. Additionally, the 6-9 forward leads the league and ranks seventh in the country in double-doubles with 11 on the year, including posting five within the last seven contests. He's scored in double figures in 20 of the 21 games this year, highlighted by a 29-point performance against Bethany (Kansas), and has secured double digit rebounds 11 which included a 15-rebound outing against Northwest Missouri State. Along with leading the conference in double-doubles and rebounds per game, he's also second in blocks per game as he has posted 13 multi-block games this year, including a season-high of four on a pair of occasions against MSU Denver and Fort Lewis.
• Another player to watch is Xavier Martinez, who is averaging 12.7 points, 4.0 assists, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting the ball 47.7 percent from the field, 35.6 percent from 3-point range, and 83.8 percent from the free throw line. He's scored in double figures in eight of the last nine games and on 14 occasions this year, including a season-high of 25 points against CSU Pueblo. One of the top facilitators in the conference, he currently ranks third in the RMAC in assists per game, dishing out three or more assists in 15 contests, which includes a season-high of nine assists against Colorado Mesa. Additionally, he ranks third in the league with a 1.80 assist/turnover ratio. The sophomore point guard has also secured multiple rebounds in 14 contests, including a season-high of five on two occasions.
• Another one of the top facilitators in the RMAC, Hannes Saar ranks eighth in the league with 3.1 assists per game to go along with a 1.61 assist/turnover ratio that ranks fourth in the conference. He has dished out three or more assists on 14 occasions, including a season-high of seven against Chadron State. Additionally, he averages 11.1 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Saar has scored in double figures in eight of the last ten contests and 12 total games this year, including a career-high of 26 points the last time the Mountain Lions faced off against the Yellow Jackets this season. On the glass he secured four or more rebounds on 12 occasions and twice pulled down a season-high of eight.
• The final Mountain Lion to average double figures this season is Jezza McKenzie who is posting 10.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.9 steals per game while shooting the ball 46.7 percent from the field, 38.8 percent from 3-point range, and 74.1 percent from the free throw line. He has scored in double figures in four of the last six games, and 11 total times this season, which includes a career-high of 24 against MSU Denver. With a 10-point and 11-rebound performance against Colorado Mesa, he recorded his first double-double of the season. On the glass he has grabbed four or more rebounds on 16 occasions.
• Jeff Culver is in his 13^th season as the head coach at UCCS, guiding the Mountain Lions to a 200-157 record during his career. He earned his 200^th career victory in the team's most recent victory on Thursday night at South Dakota Mines.

SERIES HISTORY

• Thursday will be the 29^th meeting on the hardwood between Black Hills State and UCCS as the Yellow Jackets hold a 17-11 edge in the series.
• BHSU secured their sixth consecutive win against the Mountain Lions as they won a 95-89 thriller in overtime on December 12, 2024, in the Gallogly Events Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
• In the victory the Green & Gold overcame a double digit second half deficit as Cam Lowe scored 25 of his career-high 28 points in the second half and overtime, including five made shots from beyond the arc in the final 25 minutes of action.