Eagles outpace roadrunners
After battling for the lead, Chadron State men’s basketball team took an edge over Metropolitan State University of Denver by the end of the game, 78-76.
“We knew we had to make a few adjustments and were confident that as long as we remained disciplined we would be in a position to capitalize on their mistakes,” Porter Anderson, sophomore of Russellville, Arkansas, said.
In the last five minutes of the game, the lead switched between the Eagles and the Roadrunners seven times, the last change being in favor of CSC despite falling behind in the first half, 44-36.
Anderson cut down MSU-Denver’s lead to two points following a dunk with just under 11 minutes left of the game.
Anderson said it has felt refreshing to be back out on the court.
“Being out made me appreciate every time I get to lace up because I never know when it will be for the last time,” he said.
The Eagles saw the lead for the first time after Marcus Jefferson, junior of Lewisville, Texas, put a three pointer in the basket, placing CSC up by two points.
The Roadrunners tied and took back the lead for about two minutes before Jefferson again brought the Eagles in the lead by one point with another three pointer.
Another three-pointer this time from CJ Jennings, senior of Colorado Springs, regained the two-point lead before MSU-Denver tied up the score once again with less than two minutes left.
For a third time, Jefferson put the Eagles in the lead with a minute left and he closed out the night with a final free throw.
“I was happy to see the calm confidence in everyone’s eyes,” Porter said. “We were all ready and willing to make the sacrifices to win that game. I was really happy to be able to go to war with my brothers knowing that we had each other’s backs.”
Jefferson led the Eagles with 19 points, being five of 12 for field goals, two of five for three pointers and seven of nine for free throws for the night.
Jennings was close behind with 16 points with six field goals of 11 and four three pointers of six.
Anderson, KJ Harris, junior of McKinney, Texas, and Mason Hiemstra, junior of Alliance, all contributed 10 points each for the night.
“I hope our discipline will carry over,” Anderson said. “Every game from here on out is a must win and we all know it. As long as we play loose and stay dialed in the rest will take care of itself.”
CSC men’s basketball team returns to Chicoine to play Colorado State University-Pueblo Friday and Adams State University Saturday, both scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. following the women’s basketball games.