by SPEARFISH, S.D. — South Dakota Mines and the Black Hills State Yellow Jackets met up in the first basketbrawl of the year on Monday night. Coming into the game, the Yellow Jackets were receiving votes.
The Hardrockers and Yellow Jackets would embark in a back-and-forth battle that was a tale of two halves. In the first half, both teams would hit their field goals at a high rate, scoring at ease, while the second half was a defensive battle where there was a lid on both buckets. Eventually, the Hardrockers snapped a four-game losing streak.
How it Happened
Early on in the first half the two teams traded leads, but South Dakota Mines got out to a 13-8 advantage thanks to a three by Keagan Smith and a layup by Jasper Reinalda. Black Hills State would follow by tying the game at 16. The two teams would continue to trade baskets with Cameron Cohn hitting a three to give the Hardrockers the lead but would be answered by a Hoku Fisher three to give the Yellow Jackets a 24-23 advantage. The two were locked up at 28 at the media timeout with 5:52 remaining. Coming out of it, a Guillem Garcia three gave South Dakota Mines a 31-28 advantage. Alejandro Rama assisted on the three for his fifth of the half. Rama would continue to do damage, ending the half with 12 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds. Jasper Reinalda would convert an and-1 near the end of the half to give the Hardrockers a 42-36 advantage at halftime.
Early in the second half, Rama would continue to play well, helping to get the Hardrockers out to a 7-point advantage, leading 53-46 with 13:56 to play. Black Hills State would start to get a little momentum, working the game to a tie with just over 10 minutes to play at 54. After a six-minute field goal drought, Kolton Frugoli would hit a free throw to retake the lead, 55-54 with 8:34 to play. With just over seven minutes to play, Brannagh Walsh finally cashed in a field goal, leading to a 57-54 lead at a media timeout. Later, a Keagen Smith three would be followed by a pair of threes by Cameron Cohn to give the Hardrockers a 9-point advantage, 69-60 with just over two minutes to play. Another Walsh basket with just over a minute to play would give SDM a double-digit advantage, one they would hold onto, winning 77-69.
Notes
Alejandro Rama had a great game, scoring 22 points and dishing six assists
