Men win 1 in Colorado, move to 6-14
Chadron State traveled to Gunnison, Colorado, Friday to take on the Western State Colorado University Mountaineers. The Eagles earned their sixth win of the season, 94-83, thanks to a lights out second half.
After a rocky start, CSC came back from a nine-point deficit early in the first and battled hard to earn a five-point lead going into halftime.
The Eagles came out swinging in the second half, shooting almost 67 percent from
the field and 80 percent from behind the arc. CSC took off on a 20-point lead, never letting the Mountaineers regain the advantage.
A trio of Mountaineers did the majority of the work on offense. Seniors Mason Biddle, of Riverside, California, and Devin Kastrup, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, along with junior Danny Hopkins, of Riverside, California, combined for 50 points and 17 rebounds.
Kendrick Holliman, senior of Spanish Fort, Alabama, earned his first double-double of the season. Holliman shot 7 of 13 from the field, ending with 21 points and 14 rebounds. Senior Josiah Lee, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, finished with a perfect night from beyond the arc, draining all three, to finish with 19. Christopher Smith, senior of Pasadena, California, added a game-high five assists to go along with 10 points.
Sharing the ball well, Chadron State finished with 16 assists as a team. The Eagles also used their defense to fuel the offense, earning 23 points off turnovers.
“Everyone was aggressive but on balance when attacking the basket; therefore, each time we attacked, if we drew in the defense, we’d find open guys, but if the defense didn’t help, we’d do the obvious and finish strong,” Holliman said. “When my teammates got going offensively, the attention left me, and that allowed me to get going as well. We had five guys in double figures, and when all of us get going it’s a long night for any team in the RMAC.”
The Eagles were unfortunately unable to keep the momentum Saturday, losing to Colorado Mesa University, 85-51.
CSC hit only five shots in the first half, allowing the Mavericks to take a 29-point lead into the break.
Once again, a trio of players doomed the Eagles. Juniors Ryan Stephan, of Lakewood, Colorado, and Julian Vasquez, of Miami, scored 19 and 17, respectively. Redshirt sophomore Nate Hawley, of Montrose, Colorado, added 17 for the Mavericks.
Holliman led the Eagles with 13. Evan Brooks, senior of Ontario, California, and Roderick Butler, junior of Detroit, both added 12.
“The only difference (between Friday and Saturday) was we didn’t come out with the same energy and focus the second game,” Lee said. “And their game plan against us was pretty effective playing zone instead of man to man.”
Chadron State will tip off against Colorado Christian at 7:30 p.m., Friday at the Chicoine Events Center.