Black Hills State University’s men’s and women’s basketball tipped off the season on the weekend of Veterans Day, finishing the double headers 1-1 and 2-0, respectively.

The men traveled south for their first games, facing both the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith and Tarleton State University in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Their first game against the UA Lions was a close 76-79 loss, with senior forward Stefan Desnica recording 19 points. Antonio Capley, a senior forward for the Yellow Jackets, led the team with six rebounds as sophomore guard Sava Dukic scored five assists.

Although the second game, against the Tarleton State Texans, was another close one, it went in the Yellow Jackets’ favor in a 78-75 win. BHSU junior guard Trey Whitley scored 22 points as senior guard Tyler Oliver led the team with eight rebounds and five assists.

The women’s team remained in Spearfish for their first two games of the season, hosting both Texas A&M University-Kingsville and Texas A&M International University. The Yellow Jackets trounced the Kingsville Javelinas, winning their first game 65-34. Junior guard Alyssia Martinez tallied 12 points and Summer Fox, a freshman forward, recorded five rebounds. Sophomore guard Ashley Davis led the Yellow Jackets with three assists on the evening.

The Texas A&M International University Dustdevils also proved to be no match, with the Yellow Jackets claiming their second victory in a 78-56 game. Racquel Wientjes, a junior guard, dropped a team-leading 35 points on the evening, with Davis recording nine rebounds and Fox earning five assists.

Both teams will face their first in-state opponents on Nov. 15, with the women’s team facing off against Northern State University in Aberdeen at 5 p.m. and the men hosting Augustana University in Spearfish at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on       95.5/96.3 Eagle Country.