After trailing by as many as 25 points and losing by 15 (72-57) to the Westminster Griffins in Salt Lake City on Friday night, the Chadron State College men’s basketball team played much better Saturday night against Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, but the Mavericks sank two 3-pointers in the final 41 seconds and dealt the Eagles a 69-66 heartbreaking loss.

Neither team ever led by more than seven points and there were 10 ties and 17 lead changes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference barnburner. Mesa had made just five of its 21 shots from behind the arc before knocking down the two that counted most.

Chadron State had a 66-63 lead after center Porter Anderson was fouled while grabbing a rebound and made two free throws with 2:54 to play.

Anderson also claimed another rebound after Mesa had missed a jumper, but each team missed a shot from downtown during a 30-second span. The Eagles missed again with a minute remaining.  This time the ball went out of bounds before anyone could grab it, but the possession error pointed toward the Mavericks.

With 41 seconds still to play, Mesa’s Jared Small tied the score at 63 with his three-pointer. With 16 seconds remaining, the Eagles missed a shot taken in the lane, and the Mavs’ Isaac Jessup got that rebound. The home team called time out with 10 seconds left to set up a final shot.  With the clock running down, senior Georgie Dancer got the ball on the right side and hit the game-winner.

Mesa shot 52% (29-56) from the field and finished with seven treys while the Eagles hit 44.8% (26-58) and had five triples.  Chadron State was nine of 12 at the free throw line and the Mavs were only four of 11. 

CSC’s CJ Jennings was the game’s leading scorer with 21 points while both Anderson and Marcus Jefferson added 12 points and KJ Harris chipped in 11 while going three of five from behind the arc.   However, the Eagles’ fifth starter, Teddy Parham, got into foul trouble early, played just 15 minutes and did not score.

Mac Riniker, a redshirt freshman, led Mesa with 20 points, Dancer scored 16 and Trevor Baskin 12.

Mesa is now 8-5 overall and 2-2 in the RMAC.  The Eagles are 5-7 and 1-3.  CSC will wrap its pre-Christmas schedule on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 18 and 19 by hosting Colorado-Colorado Springs and New Mexico Highlands at 4 p.m. following women’s games that will tip off at 2.  

                Chadron State—CJ Jennings 21, Marcus Jefferson 12, Porter Anderson 12, KJ Harris 11, Bryant Jefferson 6, Taj Toney 4. Totals: 26-58 (5-17) 9-12 66 points, 36 rebounds, 9 turnovers.
                Colorado Mesa—Mac Riniker 20, Georgie Dancer 16, Trevor Baskin 12, Isaac Jessup 9, Jared Small 7, Chris Speller 2, Blaise Threatt 2, Reece Johnson 1. Totals: 29-56 (7-23) 4-11 69 points, 31 rebounds, 7 turnovers:

Chadron State          32           34         —66
                Colorado Mesa         30           39        —69
                3-pointers:  CSC—Harris 3, Jennings 2.  Mesa—Dancer 4, Riniker, Small, Jessup, all 1.

Cold Shooting Lady Eagles Lose At Colorado Mesa

The Chadron State College women’s basketball team (3-6, 2-2 RMAC) was defeated 76-52 on the road Saturday night by Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival Colorado Mesa (8-1, 3-1 RMAC). 

The team shot cold in Grand Junction, scoring only 10 or fewer points in each of the first three quarters, while the Mavericks outpaced the Eagles in most statistical categories.  

The Eagles struggled to get anything going to start the game while the Mavericks’ offense exploded, scoring 47 first-half points while only allowing 10 points in the first quarter and 9 points in the second. The lone first-half three-pointer was made by Emily Achter on a pass from Olyvia Pacheco. 

The third quarter resembled much of the first two quarters, where the Eagles were limited to 10 points compared to the Mavericks’ 20. By the end of the third quarter, Mesa had outrebounded Chadron State 39 to 22. The score was 67-29. 

The fourth quarter was a different story. The Eagles’ offense finally began to click and exploded for 23 points while holding Mesa to only nine. During the quarter, the team shot 56.3% on field goals (9-16), 20% on three-pointers (1-5), and 80% on free throws (4-5). Samiyah Worrell had a fastbreak three-pointer and Jori Peters accounted for seven of the team’s 23 points.  

The Eagles were able to cut the Mavericks’ lead to 24 after the impressive final quarter of the game, which resulted in a 76-52 win for Colorado Mesa. 

Due to the Fall Commencement Ceremony scheduled for Friday the 17th, Chadron State will return to the Chicoine Center on Saturday and Sunday when they take on UCCS (3-6, 1-2 RMAC) and New Mexico Highlands (3-6, 0-3 RMAC). 

Chadron State— Jori Peters 11, Emily Achter 9, Bailey Brooks 8, Ashayla Powers 7, Samiyah Worrell 6, Micheala Dammann 4, Riley Aiono 2, Tatum Peterson 2, Olivia Waufle 2, Olyvia Pacheco 1. Totals: 20-57 (2-10) 10-15, 52 points, 33 rebounds, 11 assists, 14 turnovers. 

Colorado Mesa—Mariah Martin 19, Daniella Turner 18, Kelsey Siemons 15, Sophie Anderson 7, Monica Brooks 7, Emily Cavey 4, Savannah Domgaard 3, Kylie Kravig 2, Sophie Hadad 1. Totals: 29-66 (8-16) 10-12, 76 points, 44 rebounds, 16 assists, 13 turnovers.