Eagle hoopers start season with loss

The Chadron State College men’s basketball team fell to the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits, 43-21, in the season debut. However, the game does not count toward an overall record because it was just an exhibition game.

SDSU, a D-I school, won 24 games last year and are projected to win the Summit Conference title. The Jackrabbits were led by Jake Bittle, senior of Bixby, Oklahoma, who shot nine of 11 from the field including four 3-pointers. Bittle finished the game with 23 points. Mike Daum, redshirt freshman of Kimball, added 15 points, making seven of 10 attempt and snagged seven boards.

The Eagles were led by sophomore point guard Sharif Black, of Detroit, who scored 12 points. Senior Davante McCallam, of Miami, scored nine points and seven rebounds. McCallam fouled out after playing 21 minutes.

Eight other Eagles reached the scoring column, but did not score more than five points.

Chadron State is projected to finish 12th in the RMAC this season, according to a pre-season coaches poll. Metropolitan State University-Denver and Colorado State University-Pueblo are projected to finish first and second, respectively.

The Eagles also played the University of Nebraska-Kearney, Wednesday night. However the game was not over before press time.

The Eagles home opener will be against Dickinson State University, 2 p.m., Sunday.

The Bluehawks are an NAIA school, and were picked to finish sixth in the North Star Athletic Association conferenence in a preseason coaches poll. Dickinson State has played six games, although two were exhibition games, which leaves its record at 2-2.