RAPID CITY, S.D. – On Friday evening, South Dakota Mines battled with CSU Pueblo, looking to get back in the win column in RMAC play.

They were able to do so relatively comfortably as the Hardrockers led for double-digits throughout much of the game and despite a second half comeback from CSU Pueblo, the Hardrockers picked up the 86-80 victory to move to 6-6 in RMAC play.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hardrockers got off to a hot start, getting back-to-back threes from Brannagh Walsh and Alejandro Rama to start the game and the Hardrockers got out to early 12-6 and 20-8 leads after an Abel Hutchinson three. South Dakota Mines would continue to control the game throughout the first half, taking a 44-30 lead into the locker rooms.

CSU Pueblo would come out of the locker room on fire, outscoring the Hardrockers 14-1 over the first four and a half minutes, cutting the South Dakota Mines lead to 45-44. A pair of Keagen Smith threes would expand the SDM lead back to double-digits, 61-51.

South Dakota Mines would continue to keep the ThunderWolves at arms' length, going up by 10 again after a Cameron Cohn three-pointer. With under 2-minutes left, the Hardrockers held a 5-point, 79-74 lead but with under a minute to go, the ThunderWolves would hit a pair of free throws, cutting the 'Rockers lead to three but the Hardrockers would hit their free throws down the stretch to emerge with the 86-80 win.

NOTES
Keagen Smith led the team with 23 points, tying a career high…Cameron Cohn and Alejandro Rama chipped in 21 and 18…Brannagh Walsh added 10….Smith also recorded 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season…Rama added 8 assists and 7 rebounds.

UP NEXT
South Dakota Mines hosts Black Hills State on Wednesday night at the King Center.

Fans can find the latest on South Dakota Mines men's basketball all year long on X and Instagram (@hardrockermbb), while also following on Facebook at South Dakota Mines Men's Basketball. The latest on South Dakota Mines athletics can be found by following us on X at @GoHardrockers, hardrockerathletics on Instagram and Hardrocker Athletics on Facebook.

About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 13 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.