Postseason push continues on the road

The Eagles enter a four-game-stretch on the road after losing 72-83 against Westminster, Friday, and 68-88 against Dixie State, Saturday. Against Dixie, Chadron State College shot for 35% from the field, a season low.

“Early foul trouble hurt our offensive flow, and we struggled at times versus their ball screen coverage,” Head Men’s Basketball Coach Houston Reed said to CSC Sports Information. “We’re proud of how our guys competed in the second half and chipped away at their lead early on. We didn’t match up well versus them tonight, and Dixie was better than us.”

The Eagles rank 15th in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and  last in field goal defense, allowing teams to shoot for 37 percent. Despite its record, Chadron State College hopes to make a run for the RMAC tournament, starting with a four-game-stretch on the road.

“I am still confident in our team to make a push for the playoffs. We just need to focus on completing a sweep on the road,” senior Colby Jackson, of Las Vegas, said. “Our preseason schedule helped prepare us for games on the road, so I am confident.”

Friday, the Eagles travel to Las Vegas, New Mexico, to play the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys who are 5-4 in conference play and rank sixth in the RMAC. The Cowboys’ offense leads the RMAC with 91 points per game on offense with junior Sammy Barnes-Thompkins, of Phoenix, leading the conference with 24.6 points per game and senior Raquan Mitchell, of Miami, third in the conference with 22.9 points per game. Highlands is coming off a 67-83 loss to Western Colorado University, Saturday. The Mountaineers held the Cowboys  to a season low in total rebounds, 28, and points scored.

Saturday, the Eagles travel to Pueblo, Colorado, to play the CSU-Pueblo Thunderwolves who are 5-4 in conference play and rank seventh in the RMAC. Allowing 80 points per game, Pueblo’s defense ranks 13th in the conference. The Thunderwolves are led by sophomore David Simental, of Pueblo West, Colorado, who shoots 45% from the field and 29% beyond the arc, netting 256 this season. Pueblo is coming off a 74-86 loss against Colorado Mesa, Saturday. The Mavericks held the Thunderwolves to 21 total rebounds, a season low for Pueblo.

CSC has an average turnover margin of -2.7 per game, which ranks them 14th in the conference. Highlands leads the RMAC with a 3.7 turnover margin while Pueblo ranks ninth with a -0.3.

The Eagles are one game behind Adams State and Western, two games behind five other teams in the RMAC.