RAPID CITY, S.D. --- After dropping the first four game of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule, the South Dakota School of Mines men's basketball team has righted the ship and is back on course for a run at post-season play.

The Hardrockers have won their last three RMAC bouts, defeating Adams State (72-69), Colorado Mesa (87-78) and Western Colorado University (71-55) and gained some momentum as they head off to Denver, Colorado, this weekend for RMAC competition at Regis University of Colorado Christian University.   

South Dakota Mines (6-7, 3-4 RMAC) won back-to-back games for the first time in the 2019-20 season, triggering a three-game winning streak. They made 54 percent of their shot attempts on route to an 87-78 win over Colorado Mesa. The Hardrockers converted on seven three-pointers in the first half of play, creating a 15-point halftime lead. They led by as many as 19 points in the second half and were forced to make free throws down the stretch to put the game away. South Dakota Mines limited Western to just 55 total points in their 71-55 win on Saturday. The Hardrockers never trailed in the game.

The Hardrockers are 11^th in the RMAC standings. Regis is two spots above in ninth place with an 8-5 overall record and 3-4 mark in the RMAC; and Colorado Christian is at the bottom of the standings with a 1-12 won-loss record and 1-6 showing in the league.

SD Mines heads into the weekend 10^th place on offense, scoring 74.7 ppg while the defense is second allowing just 68.4 ppg. Mitchell Sueker leads the offense for the 'Rockers and rounds out the RMAC's Top 25 scoring 12.7 ppg. Allec Williams is contributing with 12.5 ppg and Logan Elers cashes in for 11.1 ppg as well as leads the team in rebounding, hauling in 5.4 rpg. Damani Hayes also crashes the boards well with 4.8 rpg.

In Friday's bout against Regis, the Hardrockers will go up against the No. 7 ranked offense (76.5 ppg) and the No. 8 rated defense (73.8 ppg). The Rangers have dropped their last two games, falling to New Mexico Highlands (76-85) and to CSU-Pueblo (78-74).

Toni Rocak leads the Regis squad and is the league's 15^th leading scorer averaging 14.8 ppg. Christian Little is also a spark for the offense also contributing with 14.8 ppg while Brian Dawson adds 12.3 ppg.

Friday's game tips off at 7 p.m.  can be streamed live from the RMAC Network at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/regis/ and livestats are available at: https://regisrangers.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary .

Looking at Saturday's opponent, the Cougars only win of the season was back on Dec. 14 against UCCS (79-77). They fell to CSU-Pueblo 85-78, and got drubbed, 102-81, against New Mexico Highlands last weekend.

The CCU offense is ranked 15^th in the RMAC, scoring 71.1 ppg and the defense also registers at 15, allowing 83.3 ppg. Jake Hornick leads the Cougars with 13.1 ppg; while Justin Engesser and Spencer Hoffman keep pace with just over 12 ppg and Elijah Oliver tacks on 11.1 ppg.

Saturday's game starts at 7 p.m. and can be streamed live from the RMAC Network at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/ccucougars/portal.htm?eventId=563752&streamType=video and livestats are available at: https://ccucougars.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary .