by RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Hardrocker men’s basketball team fought and fought back but fell in their last non-conference home game.
The first half started slow for the Hardrockers, with them trailing 15-7 early, before fighting back to take the lead 15-14 after a Markel Allums layup. Going into the media timeout at 11:39, the Hardrockers trailed 22-18. Over the next few minutes, the two teams would go back and forth. At the under 10-media timeout the Hardrockers trailed 30-27. Later in the half, the Hardrockers would tie it up and take the lead when Keagen Smith was fouled on a three-pointer and hit two free throws, taking the 33-32 lead. To end the half Jaxon Lloyd would make a layup off a feed from Kolton Frugoli.
The second half would not start well offensively for the Hardrockers only scoring 4 points through the first 6:01, at which point the Lopers held a 51-41 lead. Out of the timeout, Alejandro Rama (Oglala Lakota) would hit a three to cut the Loper lead to 7. The Hardrockers would continue to hit three’s cutting the deficit to 55-50 with 11:24 remaining. The Lopers would continue to hit shots, however. Despite two and-1’s by Rama and Brannagh Walsh, the Hardrockers trailed 68-58 with 7:11 to go. The Lopers would continue to score and buoyed by a few Hardrocker turnovers would go up 77-60 with 3:55 to play.
