Spearfish, S.D.- The Metropolitan State University of Denver men's basketball team defeated Black Hills State 62-59 on the road Saturday night. The Roadrunners improved to 13-9 overall and 9-7 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The Yellow Jackets fell to 7-16 overall and 4-13 in conference play. 
 
The Roadrunners ended the night with four in double figures. Senior Brian Howard (Maywood, Ill./Saint Ignatius H.S.) led with 18 points. Senior Sunday Dech (Perth, Australia/Churchlands H.S.) finished the night with 15 points and 5 boards. Junior Peter Møller (Værløse, Denmark/Falkonergårdens Gymnasium) added 13 points for the Roadrunners and Senior Andre Harris (DeKalb, Ill./DeKalb H.S.) nearly completed a double double with 11 points and 9 rebounds. The Yellow Jackets were led by Fraser Malcom who led all scorers with 23 points.
 
MSU Denver shot 40 percent from the field and out rebounded Black Hills 31-29.
 
Both teams were quick to get going. The Yellow Jackets were hot from behind the arch with all nine of their first points coming from downtown. The Roadrunners responded keeping the game at 9-8 into the first four minutes of the half.
 
Brian Howard (Maywood, Ill./Saint Ignatius H.S.) finished an 8-0 run scoring the Roadrunners third three of the game to give the Roadrunners a 13-9 lead. However, the Yellow Jackets would then go on a 14-0 run scoring 9 of the 14 from behind the arch and lead the game by 10 with 9:46 to go in the half.
 
The Roadrunner fought back to cut the lead to four with 6:40 to go in the first half  after a 6-0 run, but the Yellow jackets would not let up continuing to answer back.
 
After a converted four-point play from Møller, the Yellow Jackets went on a 7-1 run to end the half on top 36-24.
 
Møller and Howard both had 7 in the first half. The Roadrunners shot 36 from the field while the Yellow Jackets shot 59 percent in the first half.
 
The Roadrunners came out to start the second half strong, scoring the first four points of the half. A three pointer scored by Sunday Dech (Perth, Australia/Churchlands H.S.) started an 8-3 run for the Roadrunners in which they were able to cut the lead to five at 41-36 with 14:51 left in the half.
 
The score remained at 41-36 for over three minutes until Harris scored a jumper to bring the game within three. Junior Kyle Lawson (Tustin, Calif./Foothill H.S.) and Dech completed a 13-0 run for MSU Denver scoring a pair from downtown to take the lead 45-44.
 
The following minutes was a battle between the two sides with each team exchanging buckets with the Roadrunners maintaining the lead. The team lead by as many as seven with 1:33 remaining.
 
The final minute proved to be exciting with Black Hills bringing the game within two with 24 seconds left.
 
With 19 seconds left the Roadrunner pushed it down the court to sophomore Enrique Cortés Zotes (Malaga, Spain/I.E.S. Litoral) who was fouled on a lay up. Harris converted two free throws due a Cortés Zotes injury, taking four-point lead.
 
The Yellow Jackets would continue to fight, bringing the score within 2 but a made Howard free throw would seal the deal for the Roadrunners at 62-59.

MSU Denver will continue its RMAC road trip and take on South Dakota Mines Saturday, February 4 at 5:30 p.m.