RAPID CITY, S.D. – To start off the 2025-26 campaign, South Dakota Mines Men's Basketball went 1-1 in two matchups against Texas A&M-Kingsville.
Game 1: Hardrockers vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville, 75-76 L
The Hardrockers lost a close game 75-76 to Texas A&M-Kingsville to open the new season.
In the first half, the Javelinas outscore the Hardrockers 34-33. After the Javelinas opened the game with a 6-0 run, South Dakota Mines responded and took an 11-9 lead. That lead turned into a 23-15 lead, highlighted by a
Darren Wallace three-pointer with 8:55 left in the half.
South Dakota Mines held a 25-20 lead until Texas A&M-Kingsville recorded a 10-2 run to go up 30-27. Two free throws at the end of the half guided the Javelinas to a 34-33 advantage going into halftime.
Texas A&M-Kingsville won 76-75 after both teams scored 42 points in the second half. Both teams traded points for most of the half until the Javelinas took a 60-50 lead with 7:48 left. An 11-2 run brought the score to 60-62 with 4:20 left in the game.
Guido Wanschelbaum hit a free throw to give the Hardrockers a 71-70 lead with 1:17 remaining. After
Jason Lee hit three free throws to tie the game, TJ Ford Jr. gave the Javelinas a one point lead. That lead held as Texas A&M-Kingsville won 76-75.
Lee totaled 27 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in his first game as a Hardrocker. He was 6-for-9 from the field and 14-for-16 from the free throw line.
Gray Thompson totaled nine points, 10 rebounds and two blocks.
Abel Hutchinson also had nine points for the Hardrockers.
South Dakota Mines shot 40% from the field, 29.2% from deep and 82.8% from the free throw line. They outrebounded the Javelinas 46-35 with 24 points in the paint.
Game 2: Hardrockers vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville, 79-66 W
In their second in as many days against Texas A&M-Kingsville, the Hardrockers topped the Javelinas 79-66 to earn their first win of the season.
The Hardrockers came out firing outscoring the Javelinas 44-28 in the first half. With a 5-4 lead, South Dakota Mines went on a 9-1 run, capped off by a Wallace three-pointer. Wallace hit another three-pointer with 12:39 left to make the score 17-10.
Fred Libby drained a three-pointer at the 8:53 mark, increasing the lead to 25-13.
A 16-4 Hardrocker run made it a 41-21 game for South Dakota Mines. After Jamir Turner hit a three-pointer,
Ryan Sweeney hit a three-point shot. The Hardrockers went into halftime with a 16-point lead.
The Javelinas outscored the Hardrockers 38-35 in the second half, but the Hardrockers won 79-66. Texas A&M-Kingsville brought it down to a seven-point game with 9:55 left in the half.
The Hardrockers hit free throws, and Wallace drained a three-pointer to make it 65-56 with 5:12 left. That shot started a 9-0 run as the Hardrockers put the game away with their 79-66 win.
Wanschelbaum had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds, the most rebounds in a single game by any RMAC player this season. Wallace tallied 16 points with his 3-for-5 day beyond the arc and 7-for-8 game at the free throw line. Lee recorded 14 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five assists.
South Dakota Mines shot 38.5% from the field and 30.4% from three-point range. They were also 32-for-38 from the free throw line. The Hardrockers collected 40 rebounds with 30 bench points and 24 points in the paint.
This win marked head coach
Michael Iseman's first win as a head coach.
What's Next
South Dakota Mines stays at home on Wednesday to play Fort Hayes State at 7 p.m. They will go on the road for two straight weekends before they come back home on Dec. 2.
