By: Con Marshall
CSC Sports Information
After trailing 39-29 at halftime, the Chadron State College men's basketball team rallied in the second half to tie the score at 61-61 with 2:47 to play. But the Eagles failed to score again and fell to Western Colorado 68-61 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game played in Gunnison on Friday night.
After knotting the score, the Eagles had difficulty getting good shots. They missed a pair of contested layups, turned the ball over twice, and failed to connect on a long 3-pointer at the buzzer,
Western also did not score for more than two minutes after the Eagles had caught up. But Amar Rivers made a free throw with 37 seconds remaining, missed the second shot but got the rebound and passed to Jamel Hollins, in the paint for a basket.
The Mountaineers also were 4-of-4 at the free throw line in the final 17 seconds.
Each team shot around 40% from the field overall and exactly 33% from 3-point range. However, Western was 9-of-27 from behind the arc and the Eagles were 4-of-12.
Chadron State had four players score in double figures—John Jenkins with 18, Josh Robinson 15, Jalen Patterson 12 and Dalton Peterson 11. However, the Eagles managed just five more points from a fifth player.
The Mountaineers were led in scoring by guard Kade Juelfs' 14 points. He was their only double-figure scorer, but nine teammates also scored, including Xavier Harris and Jamel Hollins with nine apiece and Tyler Halligan with eight.
For the second game in a row, the Eagles played without their leading scorer, Bryce Latimer, apparently because of health issues.
CSC is now 11-11 for the season and 8-8 in the conference. Western is 7-14 and 4-11.
The Eagles will play at home the next two weekends.
Chadron State—John Jenkins 18, Josh Robinson 15, Jalen Patterson 12, Dalton Peterson 11, Martin Poznanovic 5. Totals: 23-60 (4-12) 11-19 61 points, 44 rebounds, 12 turnovers, 7 assists.
Western Colorado—Kade Juelfs 14, Xavier Harris 9, Jamel Harris 9, Tyler Halligan 8, Trevin Leick 6, Jaelan McCloud 6, Spencer Wright 5, Christian Still 5, Jon McCloud 3, Amar Rivers 3. Totals: 25-59 (9-27) 9-15 68 points, 35 rebounds, 9 turnovers, 14 assists.
Chadron State 29 32 ---61
Western Colorado 39 29 ---68
3-pointers: CSC—Peterson 3, Jenkins 1. WCU—Juelfs 2, Halligan 2, Jalen McCloud 2, Wright 1, Harris 1, Jon McCloud 1.