SPEARFISH, S.D. – MSU Denver made a late push but couldn't quite overcome Black Hills State's double-digit lead and lost 75-72 Tuesday night in the quarterfinals of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament.
 
Fifth-seeded MSU Denver struggled from the field, making just 41.0 percent of its shots (25 of 61), including just 23.5 percent from 3 (4 of 17). The Roadrunners hot 31.0 percent in the first half (9 of 29) before improving to 50.0 percent after the break (16 of 32).
 
Fourth-seeded Black Hills State, which led 39-30 at halftime, shot 54.4 percent from the field.
 
"We just couldn't get the stops we needed, and we couldn't score in the first half," MSU Denver coach Dan Ficke said.
 
MSU Denver had a 37-30 rebounding edge, including 11-2 in offensive boards, leading to a 14-4 advantage in second-chance points.
 
However, Black Hills State kept the Roadrunners' running game in check, keeping MSU Denver without a single fast-break point.
 
"Credit to Black Hills, there's obviously a reason they are in this position (hosting the first-round game as the No. 4 seed)," Ficke said. "They had a great game plan and kept us out of transition – they didn't even go to the offensive glass, they all got back and took away our ability to attack on the fast break, and in the paint, most of the game."
 
Caleb McGill led MSU Denver with 22 points, six rebounds and five assists.
 
"Caleb was phenomenal late in the game, and the last three games that's really been the story," Ficke said. "He's been a man possessed. That's who he can truly be when he has the will and determination."
 
Brayden Maldonado added 11 points, five rebounds and two steals. Mario Lacy, Jr., and Marzouq Ibn Abdur-Razaaq each had seven rebounds, and Ryan Maslow scored nine points.
 
MSU Denver (19-10) is out of the RMAC Tournament, but still has hopes of qualifying for the NCAA Division II Tournament.
 
The Roadrunners were ranked eighth in the South Central Region last week, with new rankings (which don't reflect Tuesday's game) due out Wednesday. Eight teams – the champions from the RMAC and Lone Star Conference tournaments, plus six at-large teams – advance to the regional.
 
MSU Denver must hope for the tournament champions to come from among the eight teams already ranked. It would also be helpful if Eastern New Mexico defeats Angelo State (Texas), which is ranked ninth in the region, in a first-round Lone Star Tournament game on Thursday.
 
Black Hills State led virtually all game and was up by as much as 58-46 with 9:47 left, weathered a Roadrunner rally that cut the margin to 60-56 after five quick points by Maslow, and was ahead 66-56 with 5:31 to play.
 
But McGill scored the Roadrunners' next seven points, and then Maldonado made two free throws as MSU Denver crept within 71-65 with 2:19 left. Then McGill, triple-teamed down low, had the ball stripped, but Maslow grabbed the loose ball and scored, making it 71-67 with 1:28 to play.
 
But Black Hills State's Matthew Ragsdale, the RMAC's leading scorer, made a tough, contested 12-footer with 59 seconds to play.
 
"That was probably the dagger right there," Ficke said.
 
McGill scored again to make it 73-69 with 50.2 seconds left, but Black Hills State made two free throws with 34.2 seconds remaining for a 75-69 advantage and MSU Denver couldn't score on the other end.
 
Black Hills State missed the front end of a one-and-one, but Maldonado's 3-pointer went in-and-out. After the Yellow Jackets missed another front end, Maldonado's 3 with 1.3 to play were the game's final points.
 
Still, MSU Denver was close to getting a turnover on the inbounds pass, but the clock started early and the game was stopped and reset. Black Hills State then threw the next inbounds pass down the floor, preventing a chance for a miracle finish.
 
"I'm proud of our guys' effort," Ficke said. "To not give in and quit after we shot the way we did in the first half, it would have been easy to get blown out in the second half on the road. But they fought for the full 40 minutes, and almost got a steal at the end. It's been a season riddled with adversity, but our guys have always found a way to fight back and keep going.
 
"It's been a great step forward for the program this year with 19 wins."
 
If this is the end, it's been a terrific season.
 
"I'm really grateful for our seniors," Ficke said. "They left everything on the court for us. Mario just had one year, but he's been great. Luke (Jones) has been great the last three games and had some big plays tonight. And Jake (Chrisman) and Camden (Smithburg) represented us exactly the way you would want in everything they've done."