RAPID CITY, S.D. --- The South Dakota School of Mines men's basketball team has a tall order on tap this weekend as the Hardrockers fly to Utah for a pair of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game against the Dixie State Trailblazers and the Westminster College Griffins.
After decimating Presentation College last weekend,
102-49, the 'Rockers head into the weekend with a 3-4 overall record and an 0-1 mark in the RMAC after dropping a tight game to Black Hills State on Nov. 26 in Spearfish,
70-66. SD Mines has lost its four games by a total of just 12 points, including two one-point defeats.
With the first leg of the schedule behind them, the 'Rockers enter the weekend averaging 75.6 points per game while the defense is allowing just 65.4 points. SD Mines is shooting 46 percent from the field and make good from the three-point line 40 percent of the time.
The Hardrockers are led in scoring by
Allec Williams with 12 points per game and
Mitchell Sueker with 11 points per game while
Troy Brady and
Logan Elers are both dishing in around nine markers a contest. Elers and Damami Hays lead the 'Rockers in rebounding each coming down with about five per game.
First up for the Hardrockers will be a series finale against Dixie State. This will be the last RMAC matchup for the Trailblazers as they will be is moving up to NCAA Div. I next season. The series is a short one as DSU has a 1-0 record, defeating SD Mines,
71-65, last year in Rapid City.
Dixie State (6-0, 1-0 RMAC) continued their undefeated 2019-20 campaign with a 74-63 win over in-state rival and RMAC opponent, Westminster College (5-2, 0-1 RMAC). In that game, the Trailblazers knocked down 44.6 percent of their field goals while shooting 50 percent from beyond the arc. They outscored Westminster, 34-32, in the final 20 minutes to claim the 74-63 conference opening win. The Griffins were outrebounded, 44-33, by Dixie State.
Frank Staine of Dixie tallied a career-high 18 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including a 4-of-5 clip (.800) from the perimeter, to help lead Dixie State earn the win. Staine scored 16 of those points in the first half and was 4-of-4 from 3-point country, including back-to-back 3's as part of a big first-half run that gave DSU the lead for good. He also had four rebounds, three assists and a steal in 28 minutes.
Teammate Hunter Schofield is averaging 16.7 points a game and putting up 6.8 rebounds a game while Staine is putting up an average of 14.7 points a game and 3.5 rebounds on the season.
Friday's game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. (MDT) start and the game can be viewed on the RMAC Network at:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ and livestats are available at:
https://dixiestateathletics.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary .
Saturday's matchup has the 'Rockers matched against Westminster College. This series is also short-lived, with the 'Rockers holding a 3-2 record.SD Mines earned a
55-52 victory last year at the King Center.
The Griffins head into the weekend with back-to-back losses for their 5-2 overall mark. Before falling to Dixie State, WC fell to Lake Superior State, 75-71, on Nov. 23 at home.
Brandon Warr leads four Griffins averaging double figures, as Warr is putting up 18.4 points and 10.1 rebounds per game. Jai Jai Ely is adding 13.7 points per game and Alec Monson is contributing 12 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game.
Saturday's game is slated for a 7:30 p.m. (MDT) start and the game can be viewed on the RMAC Network at:
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/sdsmt/ and livestats are available at:
https://westminstergriffins.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary .
