Eagles win in OT
Despite Chadron State men’s basketball team taking a one-point loss to Adams State University Saturday, 59-58, the team returned to Chicoine and battled to a win in overtime against Colorado State University-Pueblo, 88-86.
“Being in back-to-back close games has shown us how important it is for all of us to find a way to impact the game,” Porter Anderson, sophomore of Russellville, Arkansas, said. “Whether that’s coaching each other from the sideline or getting on the floor for a loose ball. Every single play is important no matter when it happens in the game.”
The Eagles were the first to put points on the board against the Grizzlies Saturday with a layup from Anderson.
Being behind by seven points, Anderson put up more points, making a dunk with 2:16 left of the first half.
With a free throw from Mason Hiemstra, junior of Alliance, and another jumper from Anderson, Adams State’s lead dwindled as KJ Harris, junior of McKinney, Texas, made two free throws to tie up the score at 24 points by the end of the first half.
The second half saw the Grizzlies momentarily break away, gaining a ten-point lead two different times, but CSC recovered to take over the lead after Hiemstra made a layup with 16 seconds left.
Adams State returned to the lead though with two free throws and finished the game ahead by one.
Anderson led the Eagles with 18 points and nine rebounds Saturday.
“It was bittersweet,” Porter said. “It always feels good to get a rhythm going and hit shots.”
CJ Jennings, senior of Colorado Springs, hit a double-double night with 11 rebounds and 11 points, being five of 11 for field goals and one of six for three pointers.
Chadron State saw another game filled with tied scores against the ThunderWolves Sunday after the games Friday were moved due to the campus evacuation. Both halves finished tied, 36 after the first and 76 after the second.
The Eagles were able to put themselves nine points ahead of CSU-Pueblo five times in the second half with the ThunderWolves catching back up to send the game into overtime.
During the extra five minutes of play, the ThunderWolves started off with the lead, but the Eagles took it with 2:25 left and kept it for the rest of the time.
Marcus Jefferson, junior of Lewisville, Texas, led the Eagles Sunday with 18 points, being seven of 12 for field goals, and two of three for both three-pointers and free throws.
“We played with everything we had,” Porter said. “We understand that these are must-win games if we want to have an opportunity to compete in the conference tournament, and it showed this weekend.”
The Eagles hit the road for games against New Mexico Highlands University at 7 p.m., Friday in Las Vegas, and University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, at 7:30 p.m., Saturday in Colorado Springs. They will play at home again at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday against Black Hills State University.