RAPID CITY, S.D. – Black Hills State men’s basketball fell 79-78 to South Dakota Mines in a hard fought game at the King Center Saturday night.
The Yellow Jackets (3-3, 3-3 RMAC) shot 50 percent from the field compared to the Hardrockers’ 49.1 percent, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
Joel Scott put together his fifth career double-double, leading the team with 26 points and 10 rebounds.
Trey Whitley went 6-of-8 from the field, scoring 18 on the night along with a team-leading four assists.
Adam Moussa tallied a pair of steals and a blocked shot while going 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, scoring 13.
Both teams traded baskets over the first five minutes of play before the Hardrockers scored nine unanswered to move ahead 18-9. Despite SD Mines shooting over 60 percent in the opening minutes, the Yellow Jackets used key threes from Scott and Moussa to keep pace.
A jumper by Ethan Forrester at 6:10 kicked off an 8-0 scoring run as BHSU took advantage of a pair of turnovers, scoring on four straight possessions to make it a 29-25 ballgame. The Yellow Jackets wouldn’t quit, and a pair of made free throws by Whitley sent the team to the locker room down 37-35.
Out of the break, SD Mines extended their lead, going ahead 51-41 on a 3-pointer with 14:44 left to play. BHSU scored seven unanswered after a Tommy Donovan layup to pull back within two at 53-51.
The two teams continued to go back and forth before Moussa turned a steal into a 3-pointer to pull BHSU within one at 66-65 with 4:44 to go. Shortly after, a Donovan free throw would pull the Yellow Jackets even for the first time in the game at 66-all.
Moussa hit a big 3-pointer with 44 second left to play, giving BHSU its first lead of the game at 77-76. Tied 78-all, the Hardrockers made a free throw to go ahead 79-78 with four second left to seal the game.
