The final buzzer sounded inside UPMC Cooper Fieldhouse to halt a remarkable postseason run for Black Hills State University men’s basketball at the Elite Eight in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Heartbreak was palpable from the entire Yellow Jacket community, but the pride exuding from the team’s loyal followers was equally as evident. This season’s success was not only another significant moment for the program; it was a rallying point for an entire fan base that showed up in ways few Division II programs ever experience.
From Spearfish to Dallas, Pittsburgh, and beyond, BHSU fans followed their team across the country, cheering in arenas, high fiving at watch parties, tuning in at restaurants and inside living rooms, wearing their green and gold proving that this squad meant more than one season’s outcome.
Scott Hanson has been following Yellow Jacket basketball since 2015, and when the team advanced to the Elite Eight, travel logistics were not enough to prevent him from showing his loyalty.
“I flew from South Dakota to Dallas, Dallas to here,” Hanson explained. “And on the way back, I’m flying from here to Philly, Philly to Dallas, Dallas to Minneapolis, and then to South Dakota.”
That journey was echoed by countless others. Ryan Cain made the eight-hour trip to Pittsburgh, arriving at the airport before sunrise just for the opportunity to watch the team compete on the national stage.
For fans like Hanson, the reason behind the team’s success is simple.
“They’re humble,” he said. “They’re a true team. Coach Ryan has them playing at a level where they respect each other and they love each other.”
Yellow Jacket fans pointed to similar traits such as adaptability and genuine chemistry.
“If you watch them play,” Cain described, “they can match up with different styles. They can play big, play small, shoot, go inside. That depth is huge.”
Longtime supporter Arlan Emmert, who has followed BHSU men’s basketball for over a dozen years, agreed that depth played a defining role.
“They could put any 10 players on the court,” he said. “That’s what makes them special.”
Beyond the court, this postseason run sparked prominence and distinction for both the university and the town it calls home.
“It’s bringing Spearfish together,” Hanson said. “The past couple of years, there have been more fans outside the university coming to games, and that says a lot about the players and the coaches.”
Cain, newer to the community, felt the impact immediately.
“For a town as small as Spearfish to be known as a basketball school is incredibly cool,” he said. “This isn’t a flash in the pan. This is something to be proud of.”
Emmert echoed those sentiments. “Making the Elite Eight makes people take notice.”
While the Yellow Jackets made their postseason journey across the states, Beth Mathis experienced the Elite Eight run closer to home, watching the games on campus from the Joy Center, surrounded by fellow fans who share countless memories tied to the program.
Mathis has witnessed decades of Yellow Jacket basketball. She credited the program’s past and present.
“Coach (Mike) Olson was such a big part of it when we became donors. It’s special seeing how all of that has carried forward.”
Coach Olson, a key figure during the early years of her support, has remained connected to the program. Olson coached Mark Nore, current BHSU Director of Athletics, and Olson’s son later played college basketball alongside head coach Ryan Thompson.
Now living in Vermont, Olson made the road trip to Pittsburgh to be with the team during the Elite Eight, underscoring the deep, lasting ties that continue to define BHSU men’s basketball.
A longtime fan, Mathis mentioned, “We moved her in 1987 and went to all the games then alongside people like Daryl Johnson and Wayne Mundt. We’ve just always been there.”
Following the season-ending loss, emotions were raw during the postgame press conference. Head coach Ryan Thompson reflected on what the team accomplished and how close they came.
“This group was champions in every way, shape, and form,” Thompson said. “They won the regular season, the conference tournament, and a very difficult region. They did things the right way.”
For redshirt junior guard Jaeton Hackley, the moment carried weight.
“It’s an honor,” Hackley declared. “I don’t take this for granted. It hurts coming up short, especially for our fans and coaches, but I’m really proud of this group.”
Sophomore guard BJ Woodruff, experiencing his first championship run, shared that gratitude.
“It was a blessing,” Woodruff acknowledged. “There’s nobody on this roster I wouldn’t want to do this with. It definitely makes me hungry for more.”
“We’ve got the best fans in the nation,” Hackley proclaimed. “They show up and cheer loud. It makes the experience more enjoyable when you have a whole community supporting you.”
Woodruff added that the support extends beyond basketball.
“They make sure you’re okay off the court,” he said. “Just great humans.”
Coach Thompson knows how rare that is.
“There are very few places in the country that can put over 3,000 people in the gym consistently,” he said. “And then have fans travel to Dallas, Pittsburgh—wherever we play.”
That support, Thompson explained, is part of BHSU’s identity.
“It’s part of what makes this experience special for our student-athletes and coaches.”
Though the aspirations of the 2025-26 season fell short, the legacy of this team will live on. They collectively strengthened the bond between the program, the university, and the Spearfish community through loyalty, humility, and belief.
And as the team, alongside their faithful followers, packed their Pittsburgh bags and boarded flights back home after the final game, a clear message remained: this wasn’t the end—it was the standard. This season was a reflection of collective pride, connection, and a belonging that embedded itself into the heart of Spearfish.
It brought a community with it.