RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines men's basketball team's top-ranked RMAC defense will be put to the test this weekend as the Hardrockers take a road trip deep into Colorado for a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference bouts this weekend.

The Hardrockers have always hung their hat on having a solid defense that's disruptive and causes opponents to alter their style of play as well as change game plans. This season is no different as SD Mines has been allowing teams just 67 points per game.

 And after a tough stretch in the early part of the schedule, the Hardrockers weathered the storm, bounced back and now have won three of their last four outings to post a 5-8 overall record and 2-3 conference mark.

If they can secure a pair of road wins, the Hardrockers will make a significant upward climb in the league standings. After an impressive win Monday over a Nebraska Christian team that would not go away, the 'Rockers have some momentum for a challenging weekend.

First up for the 'Rockers --- the Colorado Mesa Mavericks on Friday at 7:30 p.m. (MST). CMU (8-3, 3-2) has the RMAC's second rated offense, putting up 86.1 points per game and are allowing 78.5 markers a game, ranked 10^th in the RMAC.

The Mavericks have a solid weapon in the league's second-leading scorer Connor Nichols. The senior guard is averaging 21.7 points per game and is logging over 31 minutes per game. Junior Tommy Nuno contributes with 13.5 points a night and senior Damon Dubots posts 11.9 points each time out.

Colorado Mesa is listed fourth in the conference standings with a 3-2 RMAC mark.

Saturday, the 'Rockers head to Gunnison, Colorado, to face a cagey Western State Colorado University Mountaineers --- a team still looking for its first RMAC win. Western is 3-8 on the season and 0-5 in the conference.
The Mountaineers have the second worst defense in the league, giving up 85.7 points per game while the offense is averaging 79.2 points a night (ranked sixth in the RMAC).

Western is putting up good individual numbers with senior Quincy Harding leading the team with 21 points a game and is the RMAC's third leading scorer. Fellow senior Brady Subart scores 14.2 points per game and junior Jaire Roberts notches 12.9 points a game.

Gunnison's claim to fame is Paul Wright Gymnasium. It sits at 7,723 feet above sea level, making it the highest collegiate gym in the world. The air can get pretty thin up there, so the Hardrockers will have to hurdle that obstacle along with defeating a Mountaineer squad desperate for an RMAC win.

'Redshirt freshman Mitchell Sueker continues to progress in his first season as a Hardrocker. He leads the squad with 12.7 points per game while junior Logan Elers is thriving, averaging 11.3 points per game and sophomore Troy Brady is staring to hit his stride with 9.9 points per game.

Saturday's game is slated for a 7 p.m. tipoff.