UAFS Men's Basketball team won their regular season-opening game at the Coca Cola Conference Challenge as the Lions defeated Black Hills State by the score of 79-76. The Lions start the season with a win and are now 1-0. 

Offensively, Brian Halums put up an outstanding offensive performance with season and career high 31 points while shooting 10-17 from the field and perfectly from the free-throw line (9-9). Matthew Willson had another solid performance with 14 points including a big-time three point shot with 44 seconds left in the game to put the Lions up by four. CJ Rollins recorded 13 points while Charles Botchway added 10 to power the Lions offense past the Yellow Jackets. 

Defensively, the Lions forced 18 turnovers on the Black Hills State while also adding five steals, of which Botchway had two which turned out to be the biggest difference between the two teams. The Lions allowed Yellow Jackets a 58.7 shooting percentage with 50 percent shooting from the three point line (8-16). 

UAFS Men's Basketball team will continue their competition in Coca Cola Conference challenge as the Lions take on Metro State at 4 p.m. on Saturday at Stubblefield Center. Tickets for this match are on sale now and available at the UAFS Box Office located within the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center or by phone at 479-788-7300.