SPEARFISH, S.D. – The Regis University men's basketball team (8-2, 3-2 RMAC) were stunned by the Black Hills State University Yellow Jackets (5-4, 2-3 RMAC) in the final seconds, losing the road matchup 75-74.
 
How It Happened: The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 7-2 lead early, but it would not last as Regis took the lead back and found themselves ahead 17-11 with 10:02 to go in the opening half.
 
BHSU made two free throws, but after that the Rangers went on a 17-0 run to take a 21-point lead at 34-13 over the next five and a half minutes. The home team chipped away at the lead and they managed to cut the RU lead to 13 points before halftime, 45-32.
 
The score got a lot closer throughout the second half, but a layup from senior Dexter Sienko at the 16:59 mark put Regis ahead by 49-34 for the largest lead of the second half. A three-point shot from the Yellow Jackets with under ten minutes on the clock brought BHSU within two points, 61-59.
 
Sienko continued to answer the buckets from the home side with shots in the paint. With the score tied at 68 points apiece, neither team was able to score for a two-minute stretch late in the game. Junior Jarrett Brodbeck broke the stretch sinking back-to-back free throws at the 1:56 mark to put the Rangers in front by two.
 
Again, Sienko banked home a layup on the next possession for a four-point lead thirty seconds later. A huge three-point shot from the Yellow Jackets closed the gap. Freshman Christian Little was intentionally fouled and drilled both of his shots from the charity stripe putting RU in front 74-71.
 
A wild three-point attempt from BHSU banked off the backboard and into the hands of junior Avonte Nelms who was intentionally fouled. Nelms stepped up to the line for his 1-and-1 attempt. The shot rolled off the rim and the Yellow Jackets grabbed the rebound. A Regis foul sent the home squad to the line still down by three.
 
BHSU hit both shots bringing the score to 74-73 with four seconds on the clock. On the ensuing inbound, a bad pass on the baseline in the corner allowed the Yellow Jackets to secure a steal. As the steal occurred, the Rangers were also called for a foul sending the home team back to the line for a chance to take the lead and steal the game with three seconds on the clock.
 
Both free-throws fell through the net. Trailing by one, the ball was inbounded to sophomore Christian Little who rushed down the floor and threw up a prayer that bounced off the rim right after time expired.

Game Notes: Four RU players netted double-digits led by Brodbeck who scored a team-high 16 points, going 5-of-13 from the field and splashing four shots from beyond the arc. Sienko (6-13 FG) and senior Ty McGee (3-6 FG, 7-8 FT) each had 13 points. Little added 11 points and shared a team-high seven rebounds with Sienko. The team combined to go 25-of-62 overall from the field including a solid 8-of-19 from three-point land.
 
Up Next for the Rangers: The men's basketball team will complete their South Dakota tour with a visit to Rapid City, S.D. as they go toe-to-toe with the Hardrockers of South Dakota Mines (4-4, 2-2 RMAC) tomorrow night at 5:30 p.m.