By: Con Marshall
DENVER, Colo. -- The Chadron State College men's basketball team's string of five consecutive victories was snapped Saturday afternoon by the Metro State Roadrunners 84-63 in Denver.
The Eagles jumped out to 7-0 and 9-2 leads and never trailed until Metro went ahead 29-28 with 1:39 remaining in the first half. The Roadrunners also scored the final three points of the half and led 34-30 at intermission.
Chadron State scored on its first two possessions of the second half before Metro went on a 10-0 run and seldom looked back.
The Colorado team had shot just 34.3% from the field in the first half, but nailed 23 of 34 shots for 67.6% in the second 20 minutes. Metro continually widened the margin on the scoreboard until it grew to around 20 points with 7 ½ minutes remaining.
Three Roadrunners—Mario Lacy, Caleb McGill and Marzouq Abdur-Rasaaq, all of them at least 6-foot-6—scored 17 points apiece. Metro outpointed the Eagles 56-30 in the paint, according to the stat-keepers.
The 6-8 Lacy also was the game's top rebounder with 11, helping his team lead 44-39 off the glass. The Roadrunners are now 9-3 overall and 3-3 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Chadron State's 5-10 guard Bryce Latimer also tallied 17 points to pace the visitors. Forward Josh Robinson was next with 15 points. The Eagles shot about the same each half, finishing with 24 baskets in 66 attempts for 36.4%.
CSC was 5-11 on 3-pointers in the first half, but just 1-10 in the second half. Metro was 0-9 from behind the arc in the opening half and 4-15 in the last half.
The Eagles are now 8-5 overall and 5-2 in the RMAC. They'll be home Friday and Saturday, Jan. 12 and 13 to meet Colorado Mesa and Westminster. Both double-headers will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Chadron State—Bryce Latimer 17, Josh Robinson 15, John Jenkins 8, Jalen Patterson 7, Dalton Peterson 6, Martin Poznanovic 5, Julio Phipps 4, Raul Nunez 1. Totals: 24-66 (6-21) 9-15 63 points, 39 rebounds, 20 turnovers.
Metro State—Mario Lacy 17, Caleb McGill 17, Marzoug Abdur-Radaaq 17, Brayden Maldonado 9, Quave Propst-Allison 7, KJ Garrett 5, Ryan Maslow 4, Luke Jones 4, Caden Holmes 2, Camden Smithburg 2. Totals: 35-69 (4-15) 10-17 84 points, 44 rebounds, 15 turnovers.
Chadron State 30 33 ---63
Metro State 34 50 ---84
3-pointers: CSC—Patterson 2, Peterson 2, Jenkins 2. Metro—McGill, Maldonado, Abdur-Radaaq, Propst-Allison, all 1.