SPEARFISH, S.D. – The No. 21 Black Hills State University men's basketball looks to regain their momentum after dropping two of their last three games all decided by single digits as they take to the road to face another RMAC contender in Colorado Mesa on Thursday. The Yellow Jackets, who saw their own home win streak snapped last weekend, will look to play their own role of spoiler as the Mavericks enter with an unblemished 5-0 mark at home this season. The match-up also features major implications in the conference standings as the pair are among three teams tied for second place in the league that are looking to keep pace with Fort Lewis.
 
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Date/Time/Location: Thursday, January 22 / 7:30 p.m. / Grand Junction, Colo. / Brownson Arena
RMAC Network: Beginning in the 2025-26 season the RMAC Network will now move to Pay-Per-View. Fans can purchase a single game pass ($10), monthly ($25) or annual subscription ($130). Individuals with bhsu.edu or yellowjackets.bhsu.edu email address can still take advantage of the Peak Pricing Promotion by using the code Y26-RMACEDU.
KDSJ Radio: Black Hills State men's basketball continues to air live on KDSJ Radio with the voice of the Yellow Jackets, Steve Ammerman, giving the play-by-play for all the action.
 
#21 BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• Black Hills State enters Thursday's road tilt with Colorado Mesa looking to right the ship after falling to 1-2 in their last three games as they fell to Fort Lewis (78-76) on a last second layup to drop to 13-3 (6-2 RMAC) this season. The 13-3 start overall and 6-2 league start continues to be the best start to a season for the Yellow Jackets since 2022-23.
• After seeing a 10-game win streak overall snapped the week prior at MSU Denver, the Yellow Jackets saw another win streak come to an end last week as well, an 11-game home win streak in A2 Arena as they fell to the Skyhawks.
• Shooting 34-of-68 from the field for 50.0 percent against Regis two weeks ago, the Yellow Jackets have shot 50.0 percent or better from the field in 11 of their 16 games in 2025-26, improving to 10-1 this season and 20-2 since the start of 2024-25. The loss to FLC marked a season-low in shooting percentage this past Saturday as BHSU went 23-of-53 (43.4%) from the field, making it now three consecutive games below 50.0 percent shooting from the field.
• After a slow start against Dickinson State in the 2025 finale, the Yellow Jackets went on to out-score DSU 55-35 in the second half. The game marked the fourth time this season that BHSU has out-scored an opponent by 20 or more points in the second half, averaging a +3.9 (43.7-39.8) scoring differential in the second half of contests.
• Also, against the Blue Hawks, Black Hills State went to work inside, scoring a season-best 48 points in the paint, a place they average 37.4 points per game from this season.
• Black Hills State has connected on a season-high of 15 3-pointers three times in 2025-26, two weeks ago against Regis and then in back-to-back games against UCCS and Colorado Christian as they played their final two conference games in the month of December. The two outings against UCCS and CCU also marked their two most efficient shooting performances from beyond the arc this season, shooting 50.0 percent against the Mountain Lions and 46.9 percent against the Cougars. The Green & Gold have reached double figures from beyond the arc seven times this year, improving to 7-0 in those match-ups and 19-5 in those games since the start of the 2024-25 season.
• The win over CCU in December marked the second time in a two week span that the Yellow Jackets had three 20-point scorers in a single contest. Against the Cougars Cam Lowe scored a game-high 25 points, while Myles Johnson added a career-best 22, and Tristan Hurdle scored a season-best 20. Against South Dakota Mines in the RMAC opener the week prior, Jaeton Hackley scored a career-high 29 points, while Lowe added 23 points, and Wilie Patterson III added a season-high 20 points. The contest against SDM was the first time since a November 16, 2024, game against Augustana that multiple players scored 20 or more points in the same game and the first time since March 13, 2022, against West Texas A&M that three players scored 20 or more points in the same game.
• Black Hills State added their seventh 20-assist game of the season against Regis, dishing out assists on 20 of 34 made field goals. The Yellow Jackets are 7-0 when they dish out 20 or more assists in a game this year and 20-2 since the start of 2012-13. The 27 assists against UMary earlier this year tied a NCAA Division II era program record that was set during a March 1, 2022, victory over New Mexico Highlands.
• BHSU has seen five players score in double figures in five of their 16 games in 2025-26. A year ago, it occurred just five times in 30 games, and they have improved to 9-1 in such games since the beginning of 2024-25.
• In the non-conference slate, BHSU improved to 13-1 in their last 14 games against the Lone Star Conference (LSC) with victories over Sul Ross State (86-54) and Texas A&M International (89-57). Meanwhile, they improved to 6-6 against the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) over the course of the last two years, and 10-11 since 2018-19, as they earned wins over Augustana (75-71), Minot State (72-65), UMary (85-74), and Northern State (77-70). The lone loss of the season came from the hands of NSIC foe (RV) MSU Moorhead (100-85) on the road.
• The win over Northern State on New Year's Day marked the end of an 11-game losing streak in the series, defeating the Wolves for the first time since 1978 and for the first time in Aberdeen since 1968.
• Black Hills State snapped a 5-game losing streak in the East/West Challenge when they defeated Augustana on November 22.
• The Yellow Jackets began their season with a pair of 32-point wins as they notched an 86-54 win over Sul Ross State and an 89-57 victory over Texas A&M International. With the victories the Yellow Jackets recorded back-to-back wins of 30 or more points for the first time since their 2022-23 Final Four run when they defeated MSU Denver by 32 points (89-57) on February 4, 2023, and UCCS by 31 points (100-69) on February 10, 2023.
• The Yellow Jackets boast the 26^th-best scoring margin in the nation, averaging a +12.8 scoring differential. They have recorded seven wins of 20 or more points, and two wins of 30 or more points. Seven of their 16 games have been decided by single digits, holding a record of 5-2 in those games.
• Black Hills State went 13-of-13 from the charity stripe in the season opener against Sul Ross State, the most made free throws in a game without a miss in the DII era for the Yellow Jackets. Against Fort Lewis this past Saturday, the Yellow Jackets matched a season-high of 22 made shots from the free throw line, marking two occasions they have hit 20 or more this year.
• The Yellow Jackets entered the 2025-26 season off an 18-12 (13-7 RMAC) record in 2024-25 where they finished in a tie for third in the league standings, their seventh consecutive top-4 finish in the conference.
• BHSU joins only Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Mesa as the only three schools to win 13 or more conference games in each of the last four seasons.
• Dating back to last season the Green & Gold are 21-6 in their last 27 games overall, with a pair of those losses coming to a top-10 nationally ranked Colorado School of Mines squad.
• Dating back to last season, BHSU had won 11 consecutive games in A2 Arena prior to the loss to Fort Lewis, holding the longest home win streak in the RMAC and in the state of South Dakota, and one of the longest home winning streaks in the nation at the time before the defeat. The Yellow Jackets are 88-26 (77.2%) in the building since 2017-18.
• The Yellow Jackets entered the 2025-26 season as the preseason favorites in the RMAC and are now ranked No. 21 in the eighth regular season poll of the NABC Top-25 that was released on Tuesday. With all games occurring during the Ryan Thompson era, the Yellow Jackets are 47-13 all-time as a ranked team in the NABC Division II Coaches' Poll.
• Through eight games the Yellow Jackets are a part of a tie for second place in the conference standings with CSU Pueblo and Colorado Mesa as they each sit 6-2 and two games back of Fort Lewis who is 8-0 in the league. BHSU has scored 90 or more points in four of their eight conference games this season, averaging the second-best scoring average in the conference, 87.8 points per game in RMAC play.
• It marked the first time in the NCAA Division II era and the first time since 2002-03, the Yellow Jackets scored 90 or more points in four consecutive games against South Dakota Mines (104-76), Chadron State (90-67), UCCS (97-92), and Colorado Christian (96-76). The 2002-03 team scored 90 or more points in five straight contests, including a November 30, 2002, loss to Sioux Falls (105-108, OT), a December 6, 2002, win over Minot State (97-71), a December 7, 2002, win over Dickinson State (99-77), a December 13, 2002, win over Valley City State (111-107, 2OT), and a December 14, 2002, win over Mayville State (95-74).
• Black Hills State returns three all-conference players from a year ago, as Cam Lowe was named First Team All-RMAC and RMAC Freshman of the Year, while Jaeton Hackley and Tristan Hurdle were named Honorable Mention All-RMAC. All three of those student-athletes were named to the 2025-26 Preseason All-RMAC team.
• The Yellow Jackets return seven players who started a game last season, and they return ten players in total from last season.
• The Green & Gold brings back a wealth of talent as they return their leading scorer (Lowe) and four of their top-5 scorers, they return their leading rebounder (Lowe) and four of their top-5 rebounders, they return their leading assister (Hackley) and four of their top-5 assist leaders, they return their leader in steals (Hackley) and four of their top-5 steals leaders, and lastly they return four of their top-6 block leaders from last season.
• The Yellow Jackets currently rank fifth in NCAA Division II in effective field goal percentage (58.5%), tenth in field goal percentage (50.6%), 11^th in assists per game (18.3), 13^th in defensive rebounds per game (28.75), 21^st in assist/turnover ratio (1.42), and 26^th in both free throw percentage (76.7%) and scoring margin (+12.8)
• Through 16 games the reigning RMAC Freshman of the Year and the Bevo Francis Award Top-100 Watch List member, Lowe, averages 18.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He enters Thursday's game with 14 double digit scoring performances this season and a streak of 12 straight. He notched his 18^th 20-point game of his career, shooting the ball 7-of-11 from the field, 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, and 7-of-10 from the charity stripe against Fort Lewis last Saturday. Two weeks ago, posted a season-high performance of 27 points against Regis as he shot the ball 10-of-16 from the field and 7-of-12 from 3-point range. He has connected on three or more 3-pointers eight times this year and in eight of the last 12 games. Nationally in NCAA Division II this season he currently ranks 35^th in 3-point percentage (41.1%) and is 36^th in 3-pointers per game (2.88), which ranks second in the RMAC in both. He connected on his 100^th career 3-pointer against Regis and has since brought his career 3-point shooting up to 110-of-274 (40.1%). In the Yellow Jackets match-up with New Mexico Highlands last week he grabbed a season-best 11 rebounds, marking his first double-double of the year as he added 12 points. The match-up with NMHU was one of 13 games thus far with six or more boards. This year he is among the top players in NCAA Division II in free throw percentage, ranking 44^th as he is shooting 44-of-50 from the charity stripe for an 88.0 percent clip, and he is also 26^th in defensive rebounds per game (6.44). He is the active career leader (minimum 20 games played) in points per game in the RMAC with a 16.59 career scoring average, is the leagues' top free throw shooter and field goal percentage (minimum 20 games) leader as he is 85.2 percent from the charity stripe and 49.4 percent from the field in his career, leads in career 3-pointers made per game (minimum 20 games) 2.39 per contest, and is second in career rebounds (minimum 20 games) with an average of 7.52 boards per game.
• Myles Johnson, the December 1 RMAC Defensive Player of the Week following the Minot State and UMary contests, has reached double figures in four straight games and in 12 of his first 16 games back to the court, averaging 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Against Colorado Christian in the last RMAC contest prior to the winter break, he scored a career-high 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field, 2-of-2 shooting from beyond the arc, and 2-of-2 shooting at the charity stripe. Thus far in 2025-26 he is shooting 85-of-147 (57.8%) from the field, which currently leads the RMAC and ranks 33^rd in the nation in field goal percentage. Additionally, he is seventh in the league in steals per game and has collected multiple steals in seven games. He matched a career-high of five steals against MSU Moorhead in November. In his last outing against Fort Lewis, he matched a career-high of eight rebounds, marking the seventh game he has snagged five or more boards this year. He missed all of 2024-25 due to injury but averaged 4.7 points and 1.9 rebounds in 2023-24.
• With his sixth consecutive game in double figures and eighth of the season at the time, Hackley posted his second 20-point outing with 22 points to lead the way for the Yellow Jackets at Northern State on New Year's Day. The other 20-point outing this year for the redshirt-junior guard came in the RMAC opener at South Dakota Mines, as he poured in a career-best 29 points on 11-of-12 shooting from the field, 4-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 3-of-4 from the charity stripe, while also dishing out five assists and grabbing three boards. In total he has reached double figures scoring in ten games. He is currently averaging 12.6 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.0 steal per game this year. He recorded his second career double-double and first of the season with a 16-point and 10-assist outing against UCCS in December, while also adding five rebounds. He has dished out four or more assists in nine of the 16 games this year thus far, including tying his career-high of ten in the win over the Mountain Lions. He has also collected a pair of steals in four games, most recently doing so against Regis two weeks ago. This year he currently ranks fourth in the RMAC and 51^st nationally in assist/turnover ratio (2.28), is fourth in assists per game (4.1), and is sixth in the league in minutes played per game (32:42). He entered the 2025-26 season in the top-10 of both the BHSU career assists and steals per game lists.
• Needing just 25 points to eclipse 1,000 career points, Hurdle remains one of the top sharpshooters from distance in all of NCAA Division II. After leading DII by knocking down 47.6 percent of his shots from beyond the arc in 2024-25, through 15 games in his second season in Spearfish he is currently shooting at a 45.9 percent clip from 3-point range as he is 34-of-74 on the year. In his last outing of the 2025 calendar year against Colorado Christian, he scored a season-high 20 points, connecting on 6-of-8 shots from distance. Then against New Mexico Highlands last week he recorded his ninth game in double figures this season as he scored 18 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field, 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, and 5-of-5 shooting from the free throw line. On seven occasions this year he has hit three or more 3-pointers (14 career games as a Yellow Jacket with three or more 3-pointers). On the road at MSU Denver he knocked down his 100^th career 3-pointer as a Yellow Jacket, having now connected on 104-of-221 (47.1%) from deep in a year and a half with the Yellow Jackets. Also, during the 2025-26 season, he reached 200 career 3-pointers across his stops at CSU Pueblo, Fort Lewis, and Black Hills State, as he sank his first triple of the day against UCCS on December 11. From beyond the arc in his five collegiate seasons, he is 216-of-521 (41.5%). During the 2025-26 season, the Preseason All-RMAC selection is currently averaging 9.9 points and 1.2 rebounds per game. He currently ranks sixth in the RMAC in 3-pointers per game (2.27) and is eighth in total 3-pointers made (34).
• Jack Haggett ended the 2025 calendar year with one of his best outings of his career, scoring a career-high 19 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and 3-of-4 shooting from the charity stripe against Dickinson State, while also adding five rebounds, two assists, and two blocks. Against the Blue Hawks he took over in the second half, going 7-of-9 from the field for 15 of his 19 points in less than 13 minutes of action in the final frame, securing his fifth double digit scoring performance of the year. He has made his presence known in the post with a strong start to his sophomore campaign, averaging 9.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks per game this season. Against New Mexico Highlands last week, he matched a season-high of seven rebounds, something he also did against Chadron State and Minot State. Also, against CSC in December, he recorded a career-best four steals as he poured in a then season-best 16 points. In back-to-back outings he dished out a career-best seven assists against UMary and then recorded another six against South Dakota Mines. He has recorded three or more assists in seven games and has posted a career-high three blocked shots twice in 2025-26. In the RMAC he currently ranks fourth in blocks per game (1.13).
• Newcomer Willie Patterson III averaged 9.5 points while adding 6.0 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He recorded his second double-double of the season against South Dakota Mines, as he scored a season-best 20 points and matched a season-high of 11 rebounds while shooting the ball 8-of-12 from the floor, 2-of-3 from 3-point range, and 2-of-4 from the free throw line. Against UMary he dished out a season-best four assists, one of three games this year that he has recorded multiple assists in a game.
• Another transfer making a large impact in the rotation this year is Jackson Seale, arriving from Eastern Washington and averaging 7.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 0.8 blocked shots per game. He is shooting the ball 40.5 percent from the field in 2025-26. He posted his fourth game in double figures this season with 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting from the field and matched a career-best three 3-pointers on eight attempts in the New Year's Day win over Northern State. Against the Wolves he also collected a career-best two steals. He previously knocked down 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in the RMAC opener against South Dakota Mines in December. On six occasions this season he has stepped outside and made multiple shots from distance in a game. He has scored a career-best of 15 points on two occasions this season, first against UMary as he shot 6-of-10 from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point range, and then against UCCS as he went 7-of-13 from the field and 1-of-3 from beyond the arc. Against Minot State he dished out a career-best seven assists while sending back a career-best four blocked shots. He has dished out four or more assists in four games this season and has recorded multiple blocked shots three times. With a block in three consecutive games, he currently ranks 12^th in the RMAC with 0.81 blocked shots per game. Additionally, in ten games this year he has secured four or more rebounds.
• BJ Woodruff recorded nine or more points for the fourth time this season two weeks ago against Regis, knocking down 3-of-5 shots from beyond the arc. Then in his last outing against Fort Lewis, he recorded his fourth game with multiple made shots from beyond the arc, hitting a pair for six points. He connected on a season-high of four 3-pointsers against Sul Ross State in the season opener. The four triples led to a season-best 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range in the win over the Lobos. Against Dickinson State last month, he added to his nine points as he matched a season-best four assists, grabbed a season-high of four rebounds, and posted a career-best two blocked shots to wrap up the 2025 calendar year. The sophomore guard enters Thursday's match-up averaging 5.2 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.
• Blake Volmer received just his third career start and second of the season against Regis two weeks ago. The junior guard posted his first two career double digit scoring games in the 2025-26 season, first pouring in ten points on 3-of-3 shooting from the field, 2-of-2 shooting from distance, and 2-of-2 shooting from the charity stripe against Texas A&M International during the first weekend of the season. Then last month against UCCS he scored a career-high 13 points on 4-of-4 shooting from 3-point range and 1-of-2 shooting from the charity stripe. He has provided efficient shooting from the bench, knocking down 51.2 percent (21-41) of his shots from the field and 48.1 percent (13-27) of his shots from beyond the arc. On three occasions this season he has made multiple 3-pointers. In the Yellow Jackets New Year's Day win over Northern State, he pulled down a career-best eight rebounds, marking one of five games this season he has grabbed five or more boards. He averages 4.0 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.
• Also, in the rotation in the post, Joel Speckman matched his season-high of 11 points two weeks ago at Regis, shooting the ball 4-of-5 from the field and 3-of-3 from the charity stripe. Then two days later on Saturday against MSU Denver, he grabbed a season-best six rebounds and matched a season-high of four assists. Earlier this year the junior scored 11 points at MSU Moorhead on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor and 1-of-2 shooting from the charity stripe. He averages 3.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. He is shooting the ball 17-of-27 (63.0%) from the field in 2025-26.
• Ryan Thompson is in his eighth season as the head coach at Black Hills State, guiding the Yellow Jackets to a record of 152-69 during his career. The win at Northern State on New Year's Day secured his 150^th career victory, making him just the second coach in program history to reach 150 in their Yellow Jacket career, joining all-time win's leader Mike Olson (179).

COLORADO MESA STORYLINES

• Colorado Mesa enters the game with a 2-game win streak after defeating Westminster (77-60) last Thursday to improve to 10-6 (6-2 RMAC) this season.
• The win over the Griffins improved the Mavericks to 5-0 in Brownson Arena this year and brought their home win streak to 5-games, tied for the second longest active streak in the RMAC.
• The win over Westminster also marked the sixth consecutive game shooting 50.0 percent or better from the field, and the ninth total time this year, as they improved to 8-1 in such games. On the contrary, CMU is just 2-5 when shooting below 50.0 percent this season.
• The Mavericks have also been a physical team on the glass this season, winning the battle on the boards in 13 games, and holding the RMAC's best rebounding margin at +7.0 per game and ranking 26^th nationally in the category.
• Colorado Mesa also leads the RMAC and ranks third nationally in free throw percentage, shooting the ball 246-of-307 (80.1%) from the charity stripe. CMU has knocked down 20 or more free throws in four games, including a season-best 31-of-34 performance against New Mexico Highlands earlier this month.
• Redshirt senior Ty Allred leads the Mavericks, averaging 18.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game, while shooting the ball 50.8 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from 3-point range, and 81.3 percent from the free throw line. He has scored in double figures 14 straight games and in 15 of 16 overall this year. He has scored 20 or more points seven times this season, including a season-high of 31 points on 13-of-22 shooting from the field and 5-of-5 from the charity stripe against Colorado Christian. The game against the Cougars also marked one of five double-doubles with 13 boards. He snagged a season-high 17 rebounds against Western New Mexico in November. He currently ranks second in the RMAC in rebounds per game (8.7), third in field goal percentage (50.8%), fourth in points per game (18.0), and sixth in blocks per game (1.0).
• Second on the team in scoring is Cohenj Gonzales, who is averaging 11.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting the ball 42.8 percent from the field, 39.7 percent from 3-point range, and 94.3 percent from the free throw line. He has scored in double figures in ten games, including reaching the 20 point mark twice as he posted a season-best 27 points against Montana State Billings as he went 10-of-16 from the field, 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, and 2-of-2 from the charity stripe. The game against the Yellowjackets also marked one of three games he dished out a season-best five assists, last doing so against Westminster last week. In eight games he has connected on multiple 3-pointers during the year.
• Clayton Jewell adds 10.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 block per game in 2025-26, all while shooting the ball 56.0 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from 3-point range, and 81.3 percent from the free throw line. He has scored in double figures in seven consecutive games, nine total this season, and has scored a season-high 21 points in two of the last three games against both Adams State and Westminster. Additionally, he has secured three consecutive double-doubles entering Thursday night, pulling down a season-high 11 boards against both Adams State and Western Colorado. Against the Griffins last Thursday, he dished out a season-best seven assists. He currently ranks sixth in the RMAC in blocks per game (1.00) and is eighth in rebounds per game (6.9).
• Rounding out the double digit scorers for the Mavericks is Mason Honeyman, who averages 10.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.9 assists while shooting the ball 44.2 percent from the field, 31.0 percent from 3-point range, and 80.5 percent from the free throw line. He has not played yet in the 2026 calendar year but has totaled six double figure scoring games. He poured in a season-best 29 points against Lubbock Christian as he shot the ball 9-of-17 from the field, 4-of-8 from 3-point range, and 7-of-9 from the free throw line. The outing against LCU marked the only game he has connected on multiple 3-pointers in a game. He grabbed a season-best five rebounds against Texas A&M International in November, and in his final game played in December he dished out a season-best six assists against Simon Fraser.
• Mike Dunlap is in his second season as the head coach at Colorado Mesa, guiding the Mavericks to a record of 29-16 during his tenure. Overall, he is in his 23^rd season as a collegiate head coach, leading his teams to a career record of 451-248 as he has spent five seasons at Cal Lutheran, nine seasons at MSU Denver, one season at St. Johns (N.Y.), and six seasons at Loyola Marymount prior to arriving in Grand Junction.

SERIES HISTORY

• Since the 2012-13 season, Black Hills State and Colorado Mesa have met 24 times on the hardwood, with the Mavericks holding a 15-9 advantage in the series.
• The Mavericks earned their fifth straight win the series and second consecutive season series sweep of the Yellow Jackets with a 64-57 win in Grand Junction, Colorado, on February 22, 2025.
• Looking to snap a 3-game losing streak in Grand Junction, the Yellow Jackets last win on the road against the Mavericks came on December 10, 2021, as they came away with a 75-73 victory in overtime.