By: Paxton Ritchie
CSC Sports Information
CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State shot 51 percent from the field, made 13 three-pointers and scored its most points of the RMAC season in a 105-86 victory over Adams State to conclude the 2024-25 regular season.
In a final game that seemed to have a celebratory mood, the Eagles won again at home, finishing 10-3 within the Chicoine Center this season. Chadron State finishes the regular season at 15-13 overall with an 11-9 record in the RMAC.
Despite the win, Chadron State remained in eighth place in the conference standings due to other results around the league. The Eagles will be the No. 8 seed in the RMAC Tournament for the second straight year and will face off against top-seeded league champions Colorado School of Mines in an RMAC Tournament quarterfinal this upcoming Tuesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. in Golden, Colorado.
In a poetic twist, Chadron State had five double-figure scorers, who just so happened to be the night's five Senior Day honorees. The Eagles received a CSC-career high 23 points from Julio Phipps and 21 points from Zy Wright, with the Georgia guard going over 20 for the second straight game.
Jalen Thomas finished with 11 points and 12 assists, a season-high which broke his own team single-game record for the season and was also the Texan's first double-double of the season. Dalton Peterson finished with 14 points while John Jenkins had 10.
Phipps finished 9 of 12 from the floor and added six rebounds, a steal and a block. Most notably, Phipps shot 4 of 5 from three-point range after having made just 10 threes in the previous 27 games. Wright (9-16), Jenkins (4-8), Trey Ballard (4-7, eight points) and Darrius Miles (3-6, seven points).
As a team, Chadron State shot 51.2 percent from the field, including a smoldering 61.5 percent in the second half. The Eagles were 43.3 percent (13-30) from long distance, making the second-most threes in a game this season as a team behind their 107-point explosion against Central Christian on December 16.
The Eagles racked up a season-high 30 assists and had only seven turnovers, tied for their second-fewest total of the year.
The game featured 10 lead changes, five in the first half and five in the first three minutes of the second half, but Chadron State used a barrage of threes to break the game open. Leading 56-52 with 14:20 to go, the Eagles hit five consecutive field goal attempts with a Peterson three, back-to-back Wright threes, and two Wright layups sandwiched around a pair of Jaylen Davis free throws.
The 15-2 run turned a two-basket game into a 17-point Eagles lead, and a mini 6-0 run featuring five points from John Jenkins soon put the Eagles up by 20 or more for the first time at 77-56 with 8:56 to play.
Thomas fed Phipps and Wright for alley-oop dunks before Phipps finished off another slam on an assist from Zach Smith. Scottsbluff native Jasiya DeOllos entered the game late and drained a three-pointer to lift CSC over 100 points before hitting a floater on the Eagles' last possession.
Jude Tapia, who entered the week as the RMAC's joint-leading scorer with 17 points per game, scored 28 on 10 of 20 shooting to lead the Grizzlies.
Chadron State will look to reverse its fortunes against Colorado School of Mines on Tuesday, as the Orediggers went 18-2 in the RMAC this season, including two wins over the Eagles. Should the Eagles beat the Orediggers on Tuesday, the RMAC semifinals and finals will take place Friday and Saturday at the highest remaining seed.
Chadron State— Julio Phipps 23, Zy Wright 21, Dalton Peterson 14, Jalen Thomas 11, John Jenkins 10, Trey Ballard 8, Darrius Miles 7, Jaylen Davis 6, Jasiya DeOllos 5. Totals: 42-82 FG, 13-30 3PT, 8-11 FT. 105 points, 41 rebounds, 30 assists, 7 turnovers.