RAPID CITY, SD- The Cougars continued conference play on Thursday with a trip to Rapid City to take on South Dakota Mines. In a back and forth affair that was tight throughout, CCU suffered a 72-66 setback against the Hardrockers. 

Porter Bazil scored the first points of the game with a jumper, and Pierce Bazil got a layup to go moments later. The hosts raced to a lead, but a three-pointer from Jared Lloyd Jr. cut into the deficit to make it 21-15. 

Lloyd Jr. kept his hot shooting going with another three, and moments later he nailed a pair of free throws to bring the score to 23-20. Joshua Reid then caught fire, going 2-2 from the line, putting in a layup and nailing back-to-back three-pointers as he went on a 9-0 run himself to tie the game at 30-30. A Schafer Reichart layup and Lloyd Jr. jumper sent CCU to the break on top 37-36. 

The Hardrockers came out strong to start the second half, snagging a five point lead early. Layups by Porter and Pierce had CCU within one, and the two teams continued to throw punches as they went back and forth. Bobby McWard connected from beyond the arc, and Zachary Reed drained a three as the final eight minutes hit with SDM narrowly ahead 51-49. 

Reichart quickly tied things up with a layup, and a three-pointer from Pierce had CCU leading 54-51. Another three from Reid made it 59-56, and a strong three-point play from Lloyd Jr. sent the visitors ahead 62-56 with 3:48 to play. South Dakota Mines would go on an 1-0 run from there to take control late, but a Reichart layup made it a three point game. The hosts would hit their free throws down the stretch as they closed out a 72-66 victory. 

Reid paced the offense with 17 points including going 3-4 from beyond the arc and seven rebounds. Lloyd Jr. had his best game as a Cougar with 15 points, while Pierce and Schafer chipped in 10 points apiece. 

The Cougars will close their trip to South Dakota with a matchup at #19 Black Hills State on December 13 at 6 p.m. MST.