SOUTH DAKOTA MINES at WESTERN COLORADO
5:30 p.m., Thu., Jan. 22 | Paul Wright Gym | Gunnison, Colo.
Watch (PPV) | Live Stats | Digital Program | Tickets
BLACK HILLS STATE at WESTERN COLORADO
1 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, 7-7 overall and 5-3 in the RMAC, are coming off a wild win at Westminster University, leading by as many as 18 but falling behind by a point in the final minute of action.
• Ivey Schmidt took the opportunity to play the hero against the Griffins, earning a steal with 11 seconds remaining and the score tied at 60-60, then getting off a 12-footer that dropped through the netting as the buzzer sounded for a Mountaineer victory.
• Western never led in its game four nights earlier against visiting and ninth-ranked Colorado Mesa, falling behind by as many as 18 points several times during the second quarter. But a solid third frame kept the Mountaineers in the game, and when Alyssa Eckroth hit a pair of free throws followed by a 3-pointer after a Chloe Daniels defensive rebound, the deficit was cut to just three, at 56-53.
• The Mavericks answered with a 7-0 run, though, and regained momentum down the final stretch to turn back Western's upset bid.
• The Mountaineers continue to have a strong rebounding presence, a hallmark of the program, as they have a +6 rebounding margin, averaging 38 RPG.
• Western ranks as the RMAC's biggest threat from behind the arc, hitting 36.7 percent of their long-range shots, with a total of 102 3-pointers so far this season.
• Schmidt leads the team with a 19.4 PPG average, which is second in the RMAC, while both Jayda Maves and Eckroth average 12 PPG.

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 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 Yellow Jackets take a 10-5 overall record and a 7-1 mark in RMAC action into a Thursday game at No. 9 Colorado Mesa (18-1/8-0) in a battle at the top of the RMAC standings.
• Since an RMAC season-opening two-point loss at South Dakota Mines, the Yellow Jackets have reeled off nine consecutive wins, including seven RMAC victories.
• Black Hills has been crushing opponents in its successful start, posting a +19 scoring margin (71-52), including a +19 in made 3-pointers, and a +15 rebounding margin (45-30), while also registering a +2 turnover margin.
• The Yellow Jackets attack with a balanced offense as Addison Branscum's 11.0 PPG is the only player in double digits. But six other players contribute more than 7.3 PPG in a swarm in their offensive end.
• Sawyer Stoebner (9.9 PPG) is the team's leading rebounder at 6.4 RPG, while a total of 11 players average at least 3.0 RPG to create the team's sizable rebounding advantage.
• The attack runs through Bradie Schlabs, whose 74 assists lead the RMAC.
• With so many options in scoring, BHSU doesn't necessarily need the long range shot, but Emily Cooper's 26 triples lead the team from behind the arc with a total that is 13th most in the RMAC.

UP NEXT
Western continues a homestand with its next two games, with UC Colorado Springs and Colorado Christian University coming to Paul Wright Gym next week.