Lander Tops Black Hills State 76-66 in Season Opener

Black Hills State lost its 2026-27 season opener on Saturday afternoon at the George W. Jenkins Field House.

No. 7 Lander defeated the Yellow Jackets 76-66. This result mirrors the final score of last March's season-ending loss in Pittsburgh. The contest featured the only top-10 matchup among four ranked games in the 10th Annual Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic. The event included nine ranked teams, one team receiving votes, and five Elite Eight qualifiers from the previous year. Black Hills State and Lander were the two qualifiers from that group, with Lander finishing as the national runner-up.

Black Hills State began the game with a strong offensive performance. The team hit six of its eight three-point attempts to build a 14-point lead. That advantage stood with 8:25 remaining in the opening half. Lander responded with a 24-9 scoring run to close out the first half. The Bearcats scored the final 11 points of that stanza to regain control. In the second half, Lander executed a similar late-game push. The team outscored Black Hills State 19-8 in the closing minutes to secure the victory.

The loss marks the start of the season for the Yellow Jackets. Lander enters the game as the No. 7 ranked team. The event brought together nine ranked teams and one team receiving votes. Five of the participating teams were Elite Eight qualifiers from last season. Black Hills State and Lander represented those qualifiers. Lander was the national runner-up in the previous tournament.

The game took place on Saturday at the George W. Jenkins Field House. The final score was 76-66 in favor of Lander. Black Hills State shot well from deep in the first half but could not maintain its lead. The Bearcats controlled the final stretches of both halves. The result sets the tone for the new season for both programs.