LAS VEGAS, N.M. – In a game that needed all 40 minutes of regulation, all five minutes of overtime and several minutes of a video review to decide, Chadron State men's basketball lost at the buzzer to New Mexico Highlands, falling 97-96 in overtime Saturday evening. 

After Jalen Thomas's turn-around jumper gave Chadron a 96-94 lead with 23 seconds remaining in overtime, Highlands kept the final play alive with an offensive rebound after a miss and kicked out to Kyrie Thomas, who released a three-pointer just as the horn sounded that went through the net. 

The basket counted on the floor, but officials spent several minutes at the replay monitor trying to verify if Thomas released the shot before the buzzer. As the game hung in the balance, the crew upheld their original call to set off wild celebrations in the John A. Wilson Complex. 

The Eagles came up short despite a career-high 34 points from Zy Wright, who finished a magnificent 11-for-16 from the field, including 4-for-7 from three and 8-for-9 from the line. Jalen Thomas added 22 points and finished just shy of a double-double with nine assists. 

With the loss, Chadron State drops to 7-9 overall and 3-5 in RMAC play. New Mexico Highlands, which had lost seven of eight prior to the last-second win, improved to 8-8 overall and 1-7 in the RMAC. 

The result marks the second consecutive matchup that New Mexico Highlands defeated Chadron State in overtime, as the Cowboys won 90-82 in OT in Chadron last season. It is also the second time this year that Chadron State has lost at the buzzer, with Texas A&M-Kingsville previously beating the Eagles 73-71 at the last second, also in overtime.

Chadron State held the lead for 63.7 percent of the game, but the two teams battled back-and-forth down the stretch of regulation and for the entire overtime period, with seven ties and 12 lead changes overall. 

The Eagles led by three points at halftime and as many as 13 with six minutes to play, but the Cowboys closed the gap with a 10-0 run to make it 75-72 with three-and-a-half minutes to go. 

Wright, who had 17 points in the first half, continued to be a go-to option down the stretch for Chris Francis's squad, hitting a layup plus the and-one free throw to give CSC an 80-76 lead and become the first Eagle with a 30-point game this season. 

Highlands instantly flipped the script, however, hitting a three, generating a turnover and driving for a fastbreak layup to take an 81-80 lead. Jalen Thomas answered with an and-one layup to put CSC up 83-82, but Kyrie Thomas hit what turned out to be the first of two huge three-pointers to give the Cowboys an 85-83 lead with under a minute left. 

Kyrie Thomas finished only 2-for-14 from the field in the game, but both his makes were three-pointers to give NMHU the lead with under 45 seconds in either regulation or overtime. 

Wright sent the game to an extra period with a driving layup with 19 seconds to go, and Highlands missed a three at the regulation buzzer. The Eagles jumped out to a five-point lead early in overtime courtesy of a Jalen Thomas basket and Trey Ballard three, but again, the Cowboys clawed back. 

With the score tied at 92-92, Jalen Thomas hit baskets on CSC's final two trips down the floor, but the Cowboys answered with first a game-tying basket and then the game-winning buzzer beater. 

The Eagles shot 58 percent from the field, 45.8 percent from three (11-24) and 81.3 percent from the line (13-16). New Mexico Highlands shot 43 percent from the field, 34 percent from deep and 86 percent from the stripe. The Cowboys outrebounded CSC 40-30 and the Eagles were plagued by 18 turnovers, five more than the home team. 

Chadron State will be back in the Chicoine Center next weekend to take on Westminster and Colorado Mesa. CSC's game with Westminster will tip off Thursday evening at 7 p.m.

Chadron State— Zy Wright 34, Jalen Thomas 22, Trey Ballard 16, Darrius Miles 10, Julio Phipps 7, John Jenkins 4, Jasiya DeOllos 3. Totals: 36-62 FG, 11-24 3PT, 13-16 FT. 96 points, 30 rebounds, 23 assists, 18 turnovers.

New Mexico Highlands— Kenard Richardson 23, Blessin Kimble 18, KJ LaMonte 16, Nathan Hasberry 13, Delon McCloud 11, Kyrie Thomas 6, Daniel Rosenber 5, Ja'Kwon Hill 4, Ezzy Dawson 1. Totals: 34-79 FG, 11-32 3PT, 18-21 FT. 97 points, 40 rebounds, 18 assists, 13 turnovers.

Women's Basketball Outgunned Against NMHU

LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Chadron State scored 10 points above its season average, but New Mexico Highlands had two big-time scorers which led the Cowgirls to a 95-76 win over Chadron State during a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference women's basketball game Saturday afternoon.

New Mexico Highlands shot 53 percent from the field and came away with 18 steals en route to the victory. The Cowgirls' top guns were junior Juliana Aragon with 34 points and freshman Kapiolani Anitielu with 24, who combined to score more than 60 percent of their team's points. Highlands' point total was 15 more than its previous high this season. 

The Eagles tried their best to keep pace. Juniors Kyra Tanabe with 16 points and Kylie Krise with 15 led the Eagles.  Sophomore Camren Morris added 10 and senior Ashayla Powers had eight. 

Highlands was particularly hot in the opening quarter, shooting 57 percent (12-21) from the field and made 10 of 12 free throws while taking a 35-22 lead. The margin grew immensely during a three-minute stretch late in the frame when the Cowgirls went on a 19-1 run that increased their lead from 15-13 to 34-14.  

Highlands led 54-37 at halftime, but the Eagles cut the difference to just 10 points late in the third period. In the third quarter, the Eagles shot 54.5 percent (6-11) from the field, made both of their 3-point attempts, and nailed 15 of 16 free shots. The surge netted 29 points, CSC's single-quarter high of the season.
     
For the game, the Eagles were 24-57 (42.1 percent) from the field, including 7-18 (38.9 percent) on 3-pointers and 21-28 (75 percent) from the charity stripe. Krise was 3-4 on treys and Tanabe made all six of her free throws.

CSC out-rebounded the hosts 34-24, but turned the ball over 27 times compared to Highlands' 11. 

Aragon's 34 points are the eighth-most all-time in a single game against the Chadron State women. The win was the Cowgirls' second win of the weekend. They outscored Black Hills State 56-33 in the second half Thursday night and won 77-63 to topple the Yellow Jackets, who were previously unbeaten in the RMAC, for the first time in 17 games. The New Mexico team is now 7-7 for the season and 4-4 in the RMAC. 

The Eagles are 2-12 overall and 1-7 in the RMAC. They will be at home to host Westminster on Thursday night and Colorado Mesa on Saturday afternoon.

Chadron State—Kyra Tanabe 17, Kylie Krise 15, Camren Morris 10, Ashayla Powers 8, Allison Richards 6, McKenzi Petersen 4, Megan Counts 4, Bati Assefa 4, Olivia Waufle 3, Liberty Line 3, Kadyn Comer 2. Totals: 24-57 FG (7-18 3PT) 21-28 FT. 76 points, 34 rebounds, 14 assists, 27 turnovers.

N.M. Highlands—Juliana Aragon 34, Kapiolani Anitielu 24, Eva Ongoongotau 9, Emma Christiano 8, Aniya Johnson 8, Aspen Salazar 4, Essynce Cotreaz 4, Adrianna Torrez 2, Caitlin Turnbow 2. Totals: 37-70 FG (6-20 3PT) 15-21 FT. 95 points, 24 rebounds, 14 assists, 11 turnovers.

Bynes Jumps Over 50 Feet At Dave Little Open

SPEARFISH, S.D. – With sophomore Chayton Bynes of Chadron leading the way by becoming only the second Chadron State College athlete to exceed 50 feet in the triple jump, the Eagles' track and field teams showed plenty of promise Saturday at Dave Little Indoor Meet at Black Hills State in Spearfish.

Bynes went 15.47 meters, or 50-feet, 9 ¼ inches, while winning the triple jump by more than seven feet. His previous best was 49-4 ¼, which earned the silver medal at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Indoor Meet last February.

The Chadron State triple jump record belongs to Isaac Grimes, who went 51-8 ½ while placing second at the NCAA Division II National Championships in 2019.

CSC Coach Jake Gruver said he was not surprised that Bynes jumped so well, noting that the former Chadron High standout works hard and has the strength, speed and explosiveness to challenge for high honors at the national level.  The coach added that Bynes also went 15.45 meters, or just an inch less, on another jump Saturday.

Although Bynes grabbed much of the spotlight, numerous teammates also excelled after the program had not competed since the first Saturday in December.

The Chadron State men did particularly well in the sprints, where there was lots of competition. Junior Esosa Iyengunmwena placed second among 40 entries in the 60-meter dash and won the 200 meters with other Eagles close behind in both races.  

CSC football standout Tommy Thomas was third in the 60 while Nicquaine Henry and Christopher Cormier were second and third in the 200. Cormier also won the 400 to lead a dominant Chadron State performance in that event.

Cormier, a freshman, led the way with a time of 50.42 seconds, and the next four 400 finishers also were wearing Chadron State colors. The Eagles swept the top five places with their only five entries out of the 15-runner field. Ryan Clapper and Henry finished second and third in 50.59 and 50.65, respectively, while Diego Perez finished fourth in 52.04 and Greg Logsdon came fifth in 52.21. 

Another winner on the track for the CSC men was senior Creighton Trembly in the 60-meter hurdles. Two of Trembly's classmates won the throws. Christopher Jennings heaved the 35-pound weight a robust 59 feet, 7 inches, while Parker Gonser was first among the 25 shotputters and also was third in the weight toss.

In the women's competition, Camila Salvucci won the triple jump by going 38-5 feet, farther than any other Chadron State freshman has ever gone. Mataya Ward placed third in the triple jump behind Salvucci. Sophomore Eva Nitschke also did well, placing second in both the 200 dash and 60 hurdles. Salvucci was third in the 200.  

In women's field events, the Eagles finished second and third in the high jump, with Megan Baloun taking second by clearing 1.45 meters and Kailey Klein finishing third at 1.40 meters. Morgan Ekwall and Kailey Fobare were among three athletes to tie for third in the weight throw with a mark of 13.05 meters. 

The Eagles will be right back in Spearfish next Saturday for the Myrle Hanson Open, also hosted by Black Hills State.
 
CSC top six placings follow: 
Men's Events
60—2, Esosa Iyengunmwena, 6.89; 3, Tommy Thomas, 7.02.
200—1, Esosa Iyengunmwena, 22,43; 2, Nicquaine Henry, 22.78; 3, Christopher Cormier, 22.82. 
400--1, Christopher Cormier, 50.42; 2, Ryan Clapper, 50.59; 3, Nicquaine Henry, 50.65; 4, Diego Perez, 52.04; 5, Greg Logsdon, 52.21.
60 hurdles—1, Creighton Trembly, 8.19; 5, Ethan Norris, 9.17. 
Shot put—1, Parker Gonser, 51-1.
35-pound weight throw—1, Christopher Jennings, 59-7; 3, Parker Gonser, 54.6.
Triple jump—1, Chayton Bynes, 50-9 ¼.
High jump—3, Keaton Mills, 5-10.
 
Women's Events
60—6, Laynie Goertz, 8.42.
200—2, Eva Nitschke, 27.48; 3, Camila Salvucci, 27.60; 5, Laynie Goertz, 28.33.
60 hurdles—2, Eva Nitschke, 9.44; 4, Riley Wiese, 10.17. 
Shot put—6, Kailey Fobare, 36-3.
20-pound weight throw—3-5 tie, Morgan Ekwall and Kailey Fobare, 42-9 ¾; 6, Ashlyn Tapio, 42-7 ½.  
Long jump—5, Megan Baloun, 15-4 ½.
Triple jump—1, Camila Salvucci, 38-5; 3, Mataya Ward, 33-5 ¼.
High jump—2, Megan Baloun, 4-9; 3, Kailey Klein, 4-7. 
Pole vault—3 tie, Madison Clause , 10-2. 

Peters Wins Another Title At York Open

YORK, Neb. – Esther Peters continued her dominant freshman season with another tournament victory and three other Chadron State women's wrestlers earned places at the York Open Saturday morning. 

Peters won the Open Division 207-pound championship. She was one of two CSC wrestlers to compete in the "Open" divisions, with the other being 145-pounder Karstin Hollen. 

Five more CSC wrestlers competed in the "Amateur" divisions at their respective weights, and three of them placed – Regan Rosseter finished second at 138, Sicily Frates placed second at 180 and Estrella Vasquez-Gutierrez placed fourth at 207. 

This marks Peters's second tournament win of the season after also taking home the title at the Chadron State Women's Open on December 7. The Texan's tournament victory also comes just one day after Peters defeated the No. 9-ranked 207 in the nation, Colorado Mesa's Isabeau Shalack, in a dual. 

The freshman didn't leave much doubt on her march to the bracket win, either, earning a fall in 2:32 in the semifinal and then recording a 10-0 tech fall win over Fort Hays's Grace Johns in the championship bout. Entering the tournament, Johns was fourth and Peters fifth in the NWCA Regional Rankings at 207. 

Regan Rosseter continued to impress after earning a win in her collegiate debut at 138 Friday night in the dual against Mesa. In her first tournament action for CSC, the Omaha native earned a first-round pin and two 10-0 tech fall wins in the quarterfinals and semifinals before succumbing 18-7 in the final. 

Sicily Frates also earned a runner-up finish in the 180-pound Amateur division. Frates earned a first-round tech fall, quarterfinal pin and semifinal decision victory before a loss in the final to Southeast CC's Anya Hatch, who also beat CSC's Ella Shevlin in the quarters. 

Estrella Vasquez-Gutierrez earned her first placing of the year, going 2-2 on her way to a fourth-place finish. That mark included a 1-1 record against Minot State's Madilyn Schuck, with Vasquez-Gutierrez pinning Schuck in the first round but the Minot wrestler returning the favor when they met again in the third-place match. 

Other Chadron State wrestlers who competed included Ella Shevlin, who went 1-1 before forfeiting her final match, and Maddox Gehlhausen. 

The Eagles will get back to duals in the coming weeks, as they host Sioux Falls in the Chicoine Center on Friday, January 24 before resuming RMAC duals at Adams State in January 30.