The Chadron State College men's basketball team shot 63.5% from the field and never trailed while winning 86-76 over Metro State on Friday night in Denver. The win was the ninth in a row for the Eagles, who are now 17-8 for the season and 14-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference with just three regular-season games remaining. The next one is Saturday night at Colorado School of Mines in Golden.

For the second time in three games, five players scored in double-figures for Coach Shane Paben's team.  Diminutive guard Bryce Latimer led was 23 points, swingman Isaiah Wyatt had 19, center Porter Anderson 13, point guard Marcus Jefferson 12 and versatile Josh Robinson 10. Each of them made at least half their shots, and Latimer was eight of 12 and Anderson six of seven to set the pace.  Alternate center Martin Poznanovic played only six minutes but made all three of his shots from the field.

The only time the Eagles didn't lead was at 12-12 about seven minutes into the game.  The visitors, who shot 72.4% (21-29) in the first half, led by as much as 46-30 with 2 ½ minutes left in the half and were still ahead 50-39 at intermission.

Metro, which also scorched the nets by shooting 54.4% from the field, kept the pressure on during the second half, but the Eagles always found a way to answer. The Roadrunners drew to within five points four times in the first 10 minutes and eventually cut the margin to 79-76 with three minutes remaining.

There was a defining moment about a minute later.  A Metro player made a shot while going to the basket, but was called for charging.  The referees decided check the monitor and review the play, but the call was upheld.

  Metro didn't score again while both Latimer and Anderson, the smallest and the largest players on the CSC roster, each hit a jump shot after grabbing a rebound.  Teammates made three-of-four free throws in the final 21 seconds to widen the final margin to 10 points.

Sophomore forward Caleb McGill led Metro with 24 points on 11 of 15 shooting.  Seniors Chandler Bevans and Tyrei Randall added 12 and 11 points, respectively. 

While the Eagles were 33 of 52 overall from the field and Metro was 31 of 57, Chadron State was seven of 12 from 3-point range and the hosts only three of 16.

Colorado Mines improved its RMAC record to 15-4, one game ahead of the Eagles, by defeating Colorado Christian 85-58 Friday night.  

Chadron State—Bryce Latimer 23, Adam Wyatte 19, Porter Anderson 13, Marcus Jefferson 12, Josh Robinson 10, Martin Poznanovic 6, Jarrett Taylor 3. Totals: 33-52 (7-12) 13-16 86 points, 26 rounds, 12 turnovers.

Metro State—Caleb McGill 24, Chandler Bevins 12, Tyrei Randall 12, Quave Propst-Allison 9, Brayden Maldonado 7, Luke Jones 6, Jaden Kennis 5, Yaw Reneer 2. Totals: 31-57 (3-16) 11-14 76 points, 22 rebounds, 8 turnovers.

              Chadron State            50            36         ---86

              Metro State                39            37        ---76

              3-pointers: CSC—Wyatt 3, Jefferson 3, Taylor1.  MSU—Randall, Propst-Allison, Kennis, all 1

Metro State Wins 64-53 Over Lady Eagles

Sophomore guard Kendra Parra tallied 24 points while leading the Metro State women's basketball team to a 64-53 win over Chadron State in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest in Denver on Friday night.

Parra, who entered the game averaging almost 19 points a game, was seven of 10 from the field, including four-of-five from 3-point range, and made all six of her free throws. 

Brooklynn Jones also reached double figures for Metro by making four of 10 three-pointers for 12 points.

Chadron State was led by Shay Powers with 11 points, about six points below her season average, but the 5-10 forward registered a double-double by grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds.  Redshirt freshman Claudia Dollinger added nine points and collected eight rebounds. Senior Samiyah Worrell chipped in eight points.    

Chadron State, which defeated the Roadrunners 77-70 when the teams met in Chadron on New Year's Eve, led 20-18 through the first quarter Friday night and trailed by only 33-31 at halftime. However, the Eagles were outscored 20-8 in the third frame to fall behind 53-39 and could never fully recover.

For the game, Metro shot 37.5% from the field and the Eagles 26.8%.  With Parra and Jones each making four 3-pointers, the hosts were eight of 26 from behind the arc.  CSC was three of 15 from long range, but was 18 of 26 at the free throw line and Metro 14-17.

Metro is now 11-8 in the RMAC and is likely to be among the eight teams to make the conference playoffs.  

 The CSC women will play at Colorado Mines on Saturday night and then host South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State next Wednesday and Thursday night to wrap up the season. 


Chadron State—Shay Powers 11, Claudia Dollinger 9, Samiyah Worrell 8, Emily Achter 5, Olivia Waufle 5, Allison Olsen 4, Awoti Akoi 4, Kyra Tanabe 3, Kadyn Comer 2, Riley Alono 2. Totals: 16-60 (3-15) 18-26 53 points, 47 rebounds, 13 turnovers.

 Metro State—Kendra Parra 24, Brooklynn Jones 12, Tosjanae Bonds 8, Brianna Sealy 7, Mikylah Espinosa 6, Ashlyn 4, Miza Gilberta 2, Jaiden Galloway 1.  Totals: 21-56 (8-26) 14-17 64 points, 34 rebounds, 11 turnovers.

             Chadron State          20         11         8          14        ---53

             Metro State              18         15        20          11       ---64

              3-pointers: CSC—Worrell, Achter, Waufle, all 1. MSU—Parra 4, Jones 4.

Colorado Mines Women Hit Century Mark vs. Eagles

While playing at Colorado School of Mines in Golden on Saturday, the Chadron State College women's basketball team scored 62 points, which is two points more than its season average. 

However, the Lady Orediggers shot over 50% from the field, made 14 of 31 shots from behind the arc and finished with 100 total points while improving their record to 21-4 for the season and 17-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. They share the top rung of the conference standings with Regis. 

The hosts jumped out to a 25-13 first quarter lead, were ahead 54-26 at halftime, barely outscored CSC 16-14 in the third stanza, but poured in 30 points in the final 10 minutes.

It's the first time an opponent has scored 100 points against the CSC women since Feb. 20, 2015, when Colorado-Colorado Springs won by a 100-68 score.  On Saturday, a dozen Orediggers scored and eight of them tallied at least eight points.

Mines' scoring leader was senior Megan Van de Graaf with 19 points while playing 19 minutes. Jenna Siebert was next with 14 points, while going four of seven on 3-point shots. Josie Howery added 11 points and Sammy Van Sickle scored 10 and also collecting 13 rebounds.

Chadron State was 17 of 52 from the field for 32.7% and made three of 16 shots from 3-point range.  There was one place where the Eagles outdid the Orediggers.  CSC was 25 of 35 at the free throw line and Mines was just 12 of 16.

Eleven Eagles scored, led by Shay Powers, who was the game's high scorer with 23 points.  She was seven of 10 from the field and nine of 12 at the free throw line. Samiyah Worrell added nine points and both Allison Olsen and Kadyn Comer scored eight.

The Eagles will wrap up their season by hosting South Dakota Mines on Tuesday night and Black Hills State on Thursday night. Both double-headers will tipoff at 5:30. The men's games will follow.


Chadron State—Shay Powers 23, Samiyah Worrell 9, Allison Olsen 8, Kadyn Comer 8, Allison Olsen 3, Olivia Waufle 2, Riley Alono, 2, Claudia Dollinger 2, Liberty Line 2, Livia Castellanos 2, Mel Counts 1.

Colorado Mines—Megan de Van Graaf 19, Jenna Siegert 14, Josie Howery 11, Sammy Van Sickle 10, Ashley Steffeck 9, Ashley Van Sickle 8, Jessica Rois 8, Shelby Nichols 8, Loralee Stock 4, Quincey Baum 4, Saya Sabus 3, Suni Davis 2. Totals: 37-73 (14-31) 12-16 100 points, 42 rebounds, 10 turnovers.

              Chadron State           13       13       14      22       ---62

              Colorado Mines         25      29        16      30      ---100

              3-pointers: CSC—Olsen 2, Worrell 1. Mines—Siebert 4, S. Van Sickle 2, A. Van Sickle 2, Steffeck 2, Rios 2, Howery 1, Sabus 1.

Eagles Battle, but Colorado Mines Wins 78-74

The revitalized Chadron State College men's basketball team gave a great effort, but had its nine-game winning streak ended Saturday night when the Colorado Mines Orediggers won 78-74 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference clash in Golden.

Certainly the Eagles wanted to win the game, but it's not the end of the line for them. They have two home games remaining this coming week, and after winning more games than any other Chadron State team in more than 20 years, they have clinched a berth in the conference playoffs where they'll tangle with Mines again or another of the RMAC's elite teams.

There were five ties and nine lead changes Saturday night.  The Orediggers took the lead for keeps at 59-57 after their top scorer, Brendan Sullivan, made three throws with 7:14 remaining. 

The hosts went ahead by eight points twice down the stretch, but the Eagles kept battling and were down by only two points three times in the final 70 seconds.  Four free throws by the Orediggers in the last nine seconds allowed them to keep the lead while running out the clock.

The Eagles shot 43.8% from the field, making 28 of 64 shots, their lowest since their winning streak began on Jan. 14, even though forward Josh Robinson was 13 of 17 from the field while tallying a game-high and career-high 31 points. He also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior guard Marcus Jefferson was CSC's only other double-digit scorer with 10 points.

Sullivan, a 6-foot-6 fifth-year senior, led Mines with 24 points while going nine of 12 from the field, including three of his team's four 3-pointers.  He also blocked three shots, including a layup attempt by CSC guard Bryce Latimer with 25 seconds remaining that would have tied the score if the shot had been good.

 Mines also got 12 points from 6-8 Kai Barr and had two players come off the bench to score 11 apiece.  The Orediggers were 31 of 55 from the field for 54.6% and made all 12 of their free throws while the Eagles were 13 of 19 from the line.

Chadron State's final two regular-season games will be Wednesday, Feb. 22 against South Dakota Mines and the next night against Black Hills State in the Chicoine Center.  Both will tip off at 7:30 following the women's games.  The RMAC playoffs begin Tuesday, Feb. 28.
 

Chadron State—Josh Robinson 31, Marcus Jefferson 10, Bryce Latimer 9, Isaiah Wyatt 7, Porter Anderson 7, Jarrett Taylor 6, Martin Poznanovic 3, MJ Foust 1. Totals: 28-64 (5-15) 13-21 74 points, 34 rebounds, 8 turnovers.

Colorado Mines—Brendan Sullivan 24, Kai Barr 12, Sam Beskind 11, Riley Schroeder 11, Adam Thistlewood 8, Ben Boone 8, Reagan Koch 2, Adam Krasovec 2. Totals: 31-55 (4-10) 12-12 78 points, 28 rebounds, 10 turnovers.

              Chadron State             29           45         ---74

              Colorado Mines          35           43        ---78

              3-pointers: CSC—Jefferson 2, Taylor 2, Wyatt 1. CSM—Sullivan 3, Beskind 1.

South Dakota School of Mines Game Moved to Tuesday

Due to an incoming storm, the basketball games scheduled for Wednesday, February 22nd have been moved to Tuesday, February 23rd. Game times are set for 4:00 p.m. for the Women's game and 6:00 p.m. for the Men's game. 

Tickets are on sale at https://chadroneagles.universitytickets.com/.