By: Con Marshall
CSC Sports Information
CHADRON, Neb. -- The Chadron State College men's basketball team, which during the past two years has treated its fans to many more wins than they had become accustomed to during the past two decades, gave it their best shot to pull off what would have been a rousing victory Friday night in the Chicoine Center, but the outcome was a heart-breaker to both the Eagles and their fans.
New Mexico Highlands, not one of the basketball powers in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference over the years, dealt the disappointment. The Cowboys led 48-35 at halftime and were ahead even further—by 16 points with 11 minutes remaining. That's about when the Eagles finally started clicking behind their two senior leaders—Bryce Latimer and Josh Robinson.
The pair combined to score their team's next 13 points, shrinking the deficit to five points at 68-63 with 5 minutes and 19 seconds remaining. The Cowboys' Aahmond Scarbrough interrupted the rally by hitting a jumper, but Chadron State got a couple of huge boosts from 6-9 junior John Jenkins.
With 4:44 to play, he nailed a 3-poiinter and then just over a minute later, made a rousing dunk off of a pass from Robinson, who had blocked a Cowboy's shot, grabbed the rebound and threw a lengthy pass to Jenkins, who was on the fly and made it a two-point game—70-68—with 2 ½ minutes still to play.
After each team came up empty on its next possession, Latimer put the Eagles ahead for the first time since the game's opening minute by nailing a 3-pointer out of the right corner.
There were five lead changes in the next 100 seconds before Jenkins came up with another clutch shot—a 3-pointer launched from well behind the arc at the top of the key, It tied the game at 78-78, ultimately sending it into overtime.
Highlands had possession of the ball for approximately the final 20 seconds as the clock expired and for some reason—maybe it was because to the Eagles' stiff defense—didn't even uncork a desperation shot.
With just over a minute gone off the OT clock, Latimer hit a jumper to put Chadron State ahead. But 16 seconds later Nathan Hasberry tied the score for Highlands and the Eagles never led again. The New Mexico team outscored them 12-4 in the extra session and won the game 90-82.
It was a setback for the home team, which is now 11-12 for the season and 8-9 in the RMAC and in danger of not making the playoffs.
The Eagles certainly had some exceptional performances and so did Highlands. Latimer finished with 29 points and seven assists, both game-highs, while Robinson tallied 22 points and was the game's leading rebounder with 13. Latimer scored 20 points and Robinson 14 in the second half.
Jenkins added 10 points, eight of them in the final 3 ½ minutes of regulation on the dunk and two clutch treys.
Highlands, now 8-13 overall and 6-11 in the conference, was led by 6-4 Kenard Richardson with 26 points and 5-8 Kyrie Thomas, whose size, quickness and results are a lot like Latimer's. He finished with 22 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Both are juniors.
Scarborough added 13 points and Hasberry 10.
Each team shot right at 43% from the field. Highlands had 34 total field goals and nine 3-pointers, both one more than the Eagles. The Cowboys were 13-of-16 at the free throw line, with four of them in the fleeting seconds of overtime. The Eagles were 8-of-9.
Undoubtedly, the game's most significant statistic was the Cowboys' 25-14 rebounding bulge at halftime. Twelve of the caroms were offensive. They helped Highlands take a dozen more shots than CSC in the first half, resulting in six more baskets and the 13-point intermission lead that was the key to victory in the final analysis.
The Eagles will be back in action at home Saturday night against Colorado State-Pueblo, a 95-87 winner over Colorado Christian in Lakewood on Friday night.
N.M. Highlands—Kennard Richardson 26, Kyrie Thomas 22, Aahmod Scarbrough 13, Nathan Hasberry 10, Tyler Rodgers 7, TJ Sanchez 6, Ezichi Kalu 4, Marlo Archuleta 2. Totals: 34-79 (9-27) 13-16 90 points, 47 rebounds, 14 turnovers, 13 assists.
Chadron State—Bryce Latimer 29, Josh Robinson 22, John Jenkins 10, Martin Poznanovic 6, Dalton Peterson 6, Raul Nunez 6, Porter Anderson 3. Totals: 33-76, (8-26) 8-9 82 points, 40 rebounds, 14 turnovers, 17 assists.
N.M. Highlands 48 30 12 ---90
Chadron State 35 43 4 ---82