SOUTH DAKOTA MINES at WESTERN COLORADO
7:30 p.m., Thu., Jan. 22 | Paul Wright Gym | Gunnison, Colo.
Watch (PPV) | Live Stats | Digital Program | Tickets
No. 21 BLACK HILLS STATE at WESTERN COLORADO
3 p.m., Sat., Jan. 24 | Paul Wright Gym | Gunnison, Colo.
Watch (PPV) | Live Stats | Digital Program | Tickets

GUNNISON, Colo.  Mountaineer men's basketball looks to climb back into the win column as both South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State make visits to Paul Wright Gym on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

THE HISTORY

• The Hardrockers are 7-6 overall against Western after a split of two game last season, the second game an eight-point Mountaineer victory at home.
• Black Hills State has won nine straight against Western, increasing its overall mark to 15-3 against the Mountaineers.

WESTERN COLORADO HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | 2025-26 Stats

• The Mountaineers are working through a rough stretch, losing seven in a row to post a 5-11 overall record and a 3-5 mark in RMAC play.
• Western is led by Aidan McDowell, whose 26.8 PPG average leads Division II in scoring. His 54 made 3-point field goals are tied for fifth most nationally while also leading the RMAC.
• Tyler Halligan (14.1 PPG) and Jordan Kuac (10.4) also average double-digit scoring for the Mountaineers, as the trio combine to score 51 of the team's average of 74 PPG.
• All three are also the team's leading rebounders, with Halligan coming down with 5.8 RPG, Kuac averaging 5.1 and McDowell posting 4.7 per outing.
• The Mountaineers are hitting 75 percent of their free throws, fifth best in the league, but they need to get to the line more often as their 291 attempts rank only 13th in the conference.
• Turnovers have been something to work on for the team after hitting the 20+ mark seven times this season, but they only turned it over 13 and 11 times in their most recent games, showing that the tide is turning in that department.

SOUTH DAKOTA MINES HEADING INTO THE GAME | 2025-26 Stats

• At 8-8 overall and 5-3 in RMAC play, the Hardrockers come into Thursday's game after a 20-point win against Adams State. They'd lost their two preceding games, which had ended a five game win streak.
• SDM is getting lots of scoring from behind the arc as Gavin Soukup's 33 3-pointers, Jason Lee's 30, and Gray Thompson's 26 have helped the team drop in 156 total triples, third most in the RMAC.
• Lee is a do-everything player for the Hardrockers, leading the team in scoring at 18.4 PPG, registering as the RMAC's assist leader with 96, and adding in 4.2 RPG.
• Sweeney (13.7 PPG), Soukup (11.2) and Thompson (10.9) chip in with double-digit scoring, while Thompson leads the rebounding efforts at 6.9 per game.

BLACK HILLS STATE HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND | 2025-26 Stats

• The 21st-ranked Yellow Jackets play at Colorado Mesa on Thursday before traveling to Western for Saturday's game. They'll carry a 13-3 overall record and a 6-2 RMAC record into the game against the Mavericks.
• Black Hills has dropped two of its past three games, with losses to MSU Denver and Fort Lewis College sandwiched around a home win over New Mexico Highlands.
• Despite its recent losses, BHSU is scoring 85 points per game with a +13 point scoring margin and a +6 rebounding margin.
• The Yellow Jackets' 157 total 3-pointers are second most in the conference, with Cam Lowe's 46 treys trailing only Western's McDowell.
• Lowe leads the team at 18.3 PPG, but both Miles Johnson (12.8) and Jaeton Hackley (12.6) help share the scoring load.
• Lowe is also the team's leading rebounder at 6.9 per game, with Willie Patterson III coming down with 6.0 RPG to help off the glass.
• Hockley's 66 assists are fourth most in the league.

UP NEXT
The Mountaineers will see UC Colorado Springs and Colorado Christian University come to Paul Wright Gym next week, both games a part of Coaches vs. Cancer/Suits & Sneakers week.