By: Con Marshall
CSC Sports Information
PUEBLO, Colo. -- Thanks to a driving layup by senior guard Bryce Latimer with three seconds remaining, the Chadron State College men's basketball won 84-82 over homestanding Colorado State-Pueblo on Friday night in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference opener for both teams.
The Eagles took a 7-5 lead and never trailed the rest of the game. They outscored the ThunderWolves 10-2 in the final 2:14 of the first half to own a 45-35 halftime advantage. Chadron State took a 13-point lead early in the second half and was still on top 78-67 with 3:53 to play.
But things got dicey late in the game when Brevin Walter, a 6-foot-4 senior transfer from South Dakota Mines, scored the ThunderWolves' final 10 points, six of them at the free throw line.
His two fouls shots with 18 seconds remaining tied the score at 82-82. But Latimer was able to take the ball to the hoop for the winning shot. Just three seconds were left when Pueblo got the clock stopped, and the hosts could not respond before the buzzer sounded.
Latimer led the Eagles with 25 points on 11 of 25 shooting from the field and going three of four at the free throw line. Walter paced Pueblo with 26 points, making seven of 16 field goal shots and 12 of 14 free throws.
Senior forward Josh Robinson scored 19 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for the Eagles. Center Porter Anderson added nine points while making all four of his field goal shots and his only free throw. He also pulled down seven rebounds, but played only 12 minutes because of early foul trouble.
De'Shaun Cooper, a 6-foot-9 junior, made eight of his nine field goal attempts while scoring 16 points for Pueblo, but he grabbed only one rebound.
Chadron State outrebounded the Wolves by a 39 to 26 margin, helping the Eagles get off 10 more field goal attempts. CSC was 33 of 66 from the field while Pueblo was 29-56, but the hosts were 21-29 at the charity stripe and the Eagles 13-18.
Now 3-3 for the season, the Eagles will play at New Mexico Highlands on Saturday night. The Cowboys defeated Colorado Christian 72-63 Friday night,
Chadron State—Bryce Latimer 25, Josh Robinson 19, Porter Anderson 9, Jalen Patterson 8, Dalton Peterson 5, Jarrett Taylors 5, Raul Nunez 5, Martin Poznanovic 4, Malakai 4. Totals: 33-66 (5-16) 13-18, 85 points, 39 rebounds. 11 turnovers.
CSU-Pueblo—Brevin Walter 26, De'Shaun Cooper 16, Armon Muldrew 11, Makiah Morris 10, Daeyon James 6, Ty Adams 6, Aurrion Harris 5, Isaish Morris 2. Totals: 29-56 (3-15) 21-29 82 points, 26 rebounds, 7 turnovers.
Chadron State 45 39 ---84
CSU-Pueblo 35 47 ---82
3-pointers: CSC—Patterson 2, Peterson, 1, Taylor 1, Harris 1. CSU-P—James 2, Adam 1.