DENVER – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Men's Basketball dropped its season opener Saturday, falling 77-62 to Black Hills State in a neutral site matchup in the Lone Star/Rocky Mountain Challenge.

Guard Evan Anderson led four Lions in double figures with 16 points and knocked down three triples. Guard Matthew Wilson tallied 15 points, including the first seven points of the game. Guard Courtney Murrell chipped in with 11 points while forward Chris Rollins scored 10.

UAFS trailed by eight at the break, but was never able to pull within six in the second half as it trailed by double digits for much of the half.

The teams exchanged the lead more than a dozen times in the first 20 minutes, which also included six ties. UAFS led 26-25 with 5:37 left in the first half after a pair of Murrell free throws, but the Yellow Jackets drained a three on the ensuing possession to regain the lead for good.

Anderson would hit a three to make it 30-29, however BHSU would then go on a 9-0 run to extend the lead to double digits.

BHSU struggled from beyond the arc, but shot 53.6 percent overall compared to 40.3 percent for UAFS. BHSU nearly doubled UAFS in points in the paint, 42-22.

UAFS will look for its first win of 2021-22 Sunday at 3 p.m. against host Metropolitan State University of Denver.