Con Marshall
CHADRON, Neb. – Colorado School of Mines made great use of the free throw line Thursday night while defeating Chadron State 76-61 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men’s basketball game played in Chadron.
The Orediggers meshed 23 of 24 free shots while the host Eagles, now 6-7 for the season and 2-3 in the RMAC, were just 5-of-8 at the line. Both teams were perfect at the line in the second half. Mines was 15-of-15 and CSC was 2-of-2 while being fouled just three times. The Eagles outscored their guests 56-53 in points from the field by making 25 total field goals, two more than the visitors, and hitting six threes, one fewer than Mines.
Chadron State had two double-figure scorers. Julio Phipps was 6-of-8 from the field, sank his only 3-pointer and made both of his free throws for 15 points and Darrius Miles finished with 14 points by going 6-of-9 from the field and 1-of-2 on both 3-pointers and free throws.
The Orediggers, now 11-2 for the season and 5-0 in the RMAC, led the entire game. They jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first 90 seconds when their leading scorers for both the game and the season, seniors Majok Deng and Riley Schroeder, each sank a 3-pointer and Deng added three free throws after he was fouled while firing from behind the arc again.
The Eagles soon had the difference down to four points when Miles scored on a putback, guard Jalen Thomas stole the ball and nailed a jumper and Miles made one of two free throws.
Mines responded by going on another 9-0 run to take an 18-5 lead. Schroeder tallied seven of those points by hitting a jumper, getting a tip in and sinking another trey. That gave Schroeder 10 of his final tally of 12 points in the game. Only Deng, who was 7-of-7 at the free throw line while finishing with a game-high 17 points, scored more points for the Orediggers.
Although Mines led by 13 just five-and-a-half minutes into the game, the Eagles chipped away and drew within five points—33-28—on Zy Wright’s layup with 3:20 remaining in the opening half. Unfortunately, Chadron State failed to score again in the half and trailed 37-28 at intermission. The Orediggers also netted 12 of the first 14 points in the second half to build a 49-30 advantage and led by at least 14 points the rest of the way.
Phipps and Miles were CSC’s top rebounders with five apiece. The Eagles finished with 32 rebounds, one fewer than Mines, but scored 34 points in the paint, six more than the visitors. CSC also shot 43.1% from the field while Mines was just 41.8%, but the Orediggers 23-of-24 free throw marksmanship made the difference.
Chadron State will play at home again Saturday afternoon when they greet another Denver-area team, Regis. The Rangers are 5-8 after losing to Black Hills State 90-73 Thursday night in Spearfish.