RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines men's basketball team opens the new year at the King Center as they look to start the year off with a pair of wins.
The RMAC schedule has changed, and games will now be played on Thursdays and Saturdays.
This week, the Hardrockers welcome a pair of nationally ranked teams, MSU Denver and Colorado School of Mines, on Thursday at 7:30 and Saturday at 3:00.
GAME INFORMATION
MSU Denver
Date/Time: Jan. 9 / 7:30 p.m.
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: MSU Denver leads 17-8.
Streak: MSU Denver Won 3
Series at South Dakota Mines (Since 2011-12): MSU Denver leads 7-2.
Streak at South Dakota Mines: MSU Denver Won 4
Tickets: Ticket Central
Watch Live: RMAC Network
Colorado School of Mines
Date/Time: Jan. 11 / 3:00 p.m.
Site: Rapid City, S.D.
Arena: King Center
Series Overall: Colorado School of Mines leads 22-9.
Streak: Colorado School of Mines Won 8
Series at South Dakota Mines (Since 2011-12): Colorado School of Mines leads 6-2.
Streak at South Dakota Mines: Colorado School of Mines Won 5
Tickets: Ticket Central
Watch Live: RMAC Network
DEFENSE FIRST
South Dakota Mines has been strong on the defensive end all year. They allow just 66.5 points per game, which is third-best in the RMAC and 30th at the NCAA Division II level.
DISCIPLINED BASKETBALL
The Hardrockers do a great job with discipline, as they do not often turnover the ball and do not foul.
They rank second in the RMAC and inside the top 35 in NCAA Division II, fouling just 14.6 times per game.
Regarding turnovers, SDM turns the ball over just 11.5 times per contest, second in the RMAC.
IMPROVING OFFENSE
The other side of the ball has been a change and has continued to improve as the season has gone on. Replacing last season's top two scorers has proven a challenge as
Keagen Smith has drawn increased attention.
Despite a slow start, Smith has turned things around of late and is averaging 10.8 points per game.
Tre Dowdell and
Abel Hutchinson have emerged as scoring threats, averaging 9.8 and 8.9 points per game, respectively.
SPLENDID SMITH
Keagen Smith has now scored in double figures in six straight games, with 12 or more points in five of those contests.
The team's leading rebounder, Smith, also averages nearly five boards per game.
Smith is a sharpshooter from deep, hitting 39% of his attempts from beyond the arc.
SCOUTING MSU DENVER
The Roadrunners are tied atop the RMAC with Colorado School of Mines with an unblemished 4-0 record in RMAC play.
MSU Denver has raced to a 10-2 overall record, is receiving votes in the D2CSC Media Poll, and is ranked #22 in the ABCA Coaches' Poll.
They are a strong shooting and rebounding team and have ridden that to their success thus far.
The Roadrunners are in the top 25 nationally at the Division II level in effective field goal percentage, field goal percentage, field goal percentage allowed, defensive rebounding, scoring defense, three-point percentage, and scoring margin.
Caleb McGill has been a terror in the RMAC for years, and this year is no different. The post continues to be effective on both sides of the court.
McGill averages 1.17 blocks per game, shoots 58% from the field and 86.8% from the free-throw line, and averages 15.6 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game. All of those are among the top seven in the RMAC.
Brayden Carter joins him as the Fort Lewis transfer averages 13.7 points per game and 7.3 rebounds per game.
SCOUTING COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
Saturday does not get any easier for the Hardrockers. The Colorado School of Mines Orediggers are tied with MSU Denver atop the RMAC with a 4-0 in-conference record and a 10-2 overall record.
Colorado School of Mines enters the weekend #13 in the D2CSC Media Poll and #15 in the ABCA Coaches' Poll.
The Orediggers lead the RMAC and are among the top of the nation at the Division II level in several statistical categories, including but not limited to assist/turnover ratio, assists, bench points, blocks, effective field goal percentage, fastbreak points, field goal percentage, rebound margin, rebounding, three-point percentage, three-point percentage allowed, scoring defense, scoring offense, and scoring margin.
Majok Deng is in his second year with the Orediggers and has a similar effect as in his first year, averaging 16.2 points per game and shooting 45.7% from the field.
Alex Romack is a force on the offensive glass, averaging 2.67 offensive rebounds per game.
Juanie Dassie leads the conference and is fifth at the Division II level with his 51.4% three-point shooting.
Jonathan Moore averages a block per game.
LOOKING AHEAD
Following the home weekend, the Hardrockers will hit the road next weekend for matchups with Fort Lewis and Adams State on Thursday, Jan. 16, and Saturday, Jan. 18.
You can find the latest on South Dakota Mines women's basketball all year long on X and Instagram (@hardrockerwbb), while also following on Facebook at Hardrocker Women'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.
