SPEARFISH, S.D. – In a battle of two-of-the-top three teams in the league, the 22^nd-ranked men's basketball team earned a big win over Black Hills State on the road by final of 84-77.
 
The win improves MSU Denver's record to 12-2 overall and 6-0 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Black Hills State falls to 8-6 overall and 4-2 in the conference. 
 
The Colorado School of Mines also won on Saturday and are also 6-0 in the RMAC, as both teams are tied for first place.
 
Jamil Safieddine led the Roadrunners in the first half scoring 11 points, helping the squad hit on 54 percent from the field, including 5-of-9 from beyond the arc. MSU Denver would take a 45-38 lead into the break. 
 
Into the second half and the visiting Roadrunners would build an 11-point lead thanks to a three-point play by Brayden Carter, who would finish with 18 points and three steals.
 
But the Yellow Jackets made a late run, scoring nine straight points to tie the game at 74-74. Caelin Hearne had two buckets in the stretch and finished with 10 points. 
 
After K.J. Garrett hit two free throws, Caleb McGill knocked down a clutch three-pointer to put the Roadrunners right back up by five with two minutes to go. MSU Denver would go 5-for-6 from the free throw line down the stretch to secure the victory. 
 
The twin-tower duo of Carter and McGill combined for 41 points, nine rebounds and six steals. McGill showed off his range in this one connecting on 4-of-6 from three-point range. Logan Threatt hit a couple of clutch free throws late and ended the day with nine points, three rebounds and a game-high six assists. 

For the game, the Roadrunners hit 51 percent from the field and 50 percent from downtown. 
 
Head coach Dan Ficke and his squad finishes the road trip with a 2-0 record and will head back home for the first time in 2025. They'll host Colorado Christian and UC-Colorado Springs on Thursday and Saturday of next week.