Eagles crash in Colorado
The CSC men’s basketball team fell to Adams State University, Alamosa, Colorado, 94-78, and previously ranked No. 20 Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado, 90-72. The Eagles are now 6-12, 4-10 in conference play.
Against the Grizzlies of Adams State, the Eagles struggled to shoot, particularly from behind the 3-point line. CSC shot nearly 40 percent from the field, but only managed to hit 4 of 21 from outside. The Grizzlies hit 60 percent of their shots, including nearly 40 percent from long range. CSC lost the game with a final score of 94-78.
Junior Warren Gordon, of Indianapolis, led the Eagles with 18 points. Sharif Black, sophomore of Detroit, added 11. Jay Feltson, senior of Saginaw, Michigan, grabbed a team high nine rebounds, along with six points. Eight of his rebounds were on the offensive glass.
Three Grizzlies put double-digits in the scoring column. Shakir Smith, senior of Tucson, Arizona, led all scorers with 28 points, shooting 9 of 14 from the field and only missed 1 of 8 free throws. Kendyl Grover, senior of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, finished with 21 and Joe Bell Austin, senior of Seattle, added 15.
Against ranked opponent and RMAC leader, Fort Lewis College, the Eagles improved on the offensive end but still couldn’t pull out the win, losing 90-72. CSC managed to hit 6 of 18 3-pointers, and 25 of 60 overall. The Skyhawks are now ranked No. 15, according to ncaa.com.
“In the second half (against Lewis), we had a hard time guarding them because they had so many weapons and a lot of sets we hadn’t seen,” Black said.
The Skyhawks shot 56 percent from the field and 35 percent from the 3-point line. Four players scored double figures for FLC.
Joshua Blaylock, junior of Lancaster, California, led all scorers with 25 and Cade Kloster, senior of Longmont, Colorado, added 20. Not far behind, Rasmus Bach, sophomore of Austin, scored 19 and Austin Haldorson, senior of Lone Tree, Colorado, chipped in 15.
Three Eagles managed to add double digits in the scoring column. Black led his team with 21 while Gordon added 14. Jordan Perry, sophomore of Murrietta, California, finished with 10.
Feltson, along with Perry, Jordan Green, junior of New Rochelle, New York, and Matt Reader, sophomore of Appleton, Wisconsin, each grabbed five rebounds.
The Eagles will play at home this weekend against Colorado Christian University, Lakewood, and Colorado School of Mines, Golden. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. CCU is 11-10, 7-8 in conference play while the Orediggers are 15-6, 10-5 in the RMAC.
“We definitely need to start playing better defense (to win),” Black said. “We are starting to play with better energy but we need to do the little things on defense better.”