GUNNISON, Colo.  Western Colorado played a solid opening half against visiting and 21st-ranked Black Hills State, leading or staying with a basket through the opening 20 minutes. But a 12-0 Yellow Jacket run in the second half provided a cushion that stalled the Mountaineers' upset bid Saturday afternoon in an 86-76 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference loss at Paul Wright Gym.

JUST THE FACTS
Final score: Black Hills State def. Western, 86-76
Records: Western 6-12 overall (4-6 RMAC), BHSU 15-3 (8-2)
Location: Paul Wright Gym, Gunnison, Colo.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After battling through 18 lead changes and 6 ties and to a 43-42 second-half lead on an Aidan McDowell floater from in the key, Western surrendered a 12-0 run by the Yellow Jackets that put the visitors in front, 54-43, with 14 minutes left in the game.
• The Mountaineers responded with a spark of their own – a McDowell layup and one, and a Mason Mottashed 3-pointer – to get back within five at 54-59, but the Yellow Jackets would keep Western at arm's length the rest of the way, outscoring the Mountaineers 27-22 to avoid the upset bid.
• Western got off to a quick start against the ranked Yellow Jackets, breaking out to a quick 5-0 led on a Mottashed triple to open the scoring and a tipin rebound by McDowell off a Jordan Kuac miss.
• The Mountaineers led as late as with 2:11 to play in the first half, 33-32, but BHSU would score the half's final four points for a slim 36-33 advantage at the halftime break.
• The Yellow Jackets would add to their lead in the early moments of the second half, but Western wrested it back, 41-40, on a Dawlton Grant layup after a Quincy Scott defensive rebound.
• A layup by BHSU's Jaeton Hackley stole the lead back for a moment, but McDowell's floater put the Mountaineers on top again, only to be followed by the Yellow Jackets' game-deciding run.

COURT NOTES

• McDowell and Mottashed reached double digits in scoring for Western, McDowell scoring 28 and Mottashed posting a season-high 19 points.
• Mottashed's afternoon included a season-high 4 3-pointers.
• Both teams turned the ball over 10 or more times in the game, but BHSU was able to earn 20 points off Western's 12 turnovers compared to the Mountaineers scoring just 7 points off 10 Yellow Jackets turnovers.
• Western would finish the afternoon shooting 44 percent from the floor, including 41% from behind the arc, while Black Hills State shot 54% overall and 48% from long range.

UP NEXT

• Western hosts UC Colorado Springs and Colorado Christian University next week.
• Both games are part of NCAA men's basketball's Coaches vs. Cancer/Suits & Sneakers Week.