By: Con Marshall
CHADRON, Neb. -- November 21, 2021 -- The Chadron State College men's basketball team broke into the win column in a big way Sunday evening, defeating Haskell Indian Nations from Lawrence, Kan., 118-64 in the Chicoine Center in Chadron.
As the score would suggest, the Eagles were hot. They made 48 of 77 field goal shots for 62.3%, including a school record 18 three-pointers in 41 attempts. They also shared the basketball well, setting a CSC record for most assists with 35 and had seven players score in double-figures for what is believed to be the first time in school history.
The old record of 29 assists had been reached three times, most recently in 1999-2000. Twice before the CSC men had buried 17 treys.
This was the first time the Eagles have scored more than 100 points in a winning cause since they downed New Mexico Highlands 104-87 in 2009-10. They also exceeded 100 points versus Highlands in January 2020, but lost that game to the Cowboys 109-101 in overtime.
Although the Eagles' first basket was a layup, their next five were three-pointers while they built a 17-2 lead in the opening four minutes. They led 26-6 midway in the first half, were ahead 53-27 at halftime and outscored the visitors 65-37 in the second half.
Guard Marcus Jefferson led the Eagles with 21 points on eight-of-nine shooting from the field, including five-of-six from long range. He also had eight rebounds and six assists.
Close behind in scoring was freshman Beau Bragg, who was eight-of-nine from the field while tallying 19 points. The others in double digits were Brady Delimont, 15; Taj-Maal Toney, 13; Gage Delimont, 12; and Teddy Parham and CJ Jennings with 11 apiece.
Parham handed out 11 assists and claimed eight rebounds to share game-high honors with Jennings.
Haskell's only double-figure scorer was freshman Trey Gaines with 12. The visitors were 23-63 from the field for 43.4%, including 9 of 30 on treys. Chadron State outrebounded them 41-21, and had just nine turnovers while Haskell had 23.
Haskell entered the game with 2-5 record and also lost an exhibition game to Oral Roberts University in Tulsa 89-46 last Thursday night.
The Eagles, now 1-4 for the season, while play their next three games in Puerto Rico this Friday, Saturday and Sunday before opening their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference schedule on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 3-4 by hosting Fort Lewis and Western Colorado.