RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines men's basketball team was amped up Tuesday night as the Hardrockers used their high energy and intensity to defeat their long-time rivals, Black Hills State, 65-54, during a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Ice Arena in Rapid City, S.D.

The Yellow Jackets had just one lead of the game. It came on their first possession of the night, as they took a 2-0 edge. That was it for the visitors from Spearfish, S.D. It was short-lived as SD Mines went to other end and after a three-point goal from Marco Pascolo, and the Hardrockers never looked back from there.
SD Mines kept fighting through the first 20 minutes and took a 12-point edge at halftime, 27-19, and then outscored BHSU, 38-35, in the second half to earn a much needed victory.

"For us to hold them to 19 points in the first half and outscore them in the second half is a good job of being ready for them," SD Mines men's basketball head coach Jason Henry said. "Coach (Eric) Glenn had the scout and he had them prepared. I told them in the locker room that we had our red (scout) team every day in practice and it is a pretty good team. They got us prepared for this game as well as anybody could.

"We have a chance if we can defend and we have guys coming off the bench who will defend. Once again, to win in this league, you have to get those stops when you need to, and hopefully you can keep scoring with some of these teams."

The Hardrockers finished the game shooting 40 percent connecting on 19-48 attempts, including nine from downtown. They were 18-22 from the free throw line for 81 percent. They came down with 32 rebounds, had 11 assists, four steals and two blocks.

The Yellow Jackets ended the night going 20-55 from the field for 36 percent and were just 6-12 from the foul line. BHSU had 28 rebounds, eight assists and three steals.

Individually for the Hardrockers, freshman Jake Heath led the charge with 14 points and two assists. Senior Konor Kulas recorded his sixth double-double of the season racking up 12 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. Senior Jamall Taylor added 12 markers and three assists and senior Marco Pascolo contributed with 11 points.

The Yellow Jackets were paced by Zach McLemore with 16 points and Fraser Malcolm added 13 markers.

The win vaulted SD Mines to 10-9 on the season and improved to 6-7 in the conference. BHSU fell to 5-14 on the year and 2-11 in the conference.

Next up, the Hardrockers hit the road this weekend traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah, to square off with Westminster College Friday at 7:30 p.m.