After winning eight of their last nine games to forge an 8-4 record and the four losses totaling just 11 points, things did not go well for the Chadron State College men’s basketball team in game No. 13 Tuesday afternoon in Colorado Springs.
In the first half, the Eagles shot just 25% (10-39) from the field and they scored only 23 points. Meanwhile, the host Colorado-Colorado Springs Mountains Lions shot 60% (15-25) and tallied 39 points. Chadron State shot nearly 40% (16-36) in the second half and posted 40 points. But the hosts hit almost 60% (17-29) again while putting up 52 points and coasted to a 91-63 victory.
“We just didn’t have it, it wasn’t our night,” CSC Coach Shane Paben said afterwards. “We had no legs and never got going. They’re a good team and played with lots of energy.”
The veteran coach didn’t seem too dismayed. He has consistently expressed confidence in his team. Paben added that the Eagles “will have to regroup and recharge the battery” before they play at Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction on Friday night at Westminster in Salt Lake City on Saturday night.
The Tuesday game was the third in four days for the Eagles and obviously it was one too many. CSC had edged Metro State 67-64 at home on Saturday and topped Regis 74-64 in Denver on Monday. The games this week had been rescheduled to make up for the pair that had to be postponed when the Eagles were snowbound in mid-December.
Five players scored in double figures for the Mountain Lions, led by senior guard Jon’ll Fugett with 17. He was seven-of-10 from the field, while 6-foot-9 senior William Becker was six-of-seven and finished with 13 points. Both grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.
Chadron State’s top scorer was Pat McLachlan with 18 points after he made five of his team’s six 3-pointers, all of them in the second half. Josh Robinson added 12 and MJ Foust 11.
Colorado Springs is now 11-3 for the season. Both teams are 5-2 in the RMAC
Chadron State—Pat McLachlan 18, Josh Robinson 12, MJ Foust 11, Isaiah Wyatt 6, Conner McCracken 5, Marcus Jefferson 4, Porter Anderson 2, Martin Poznanovic 2, Bryce Latimer 2, Gage Delimont 1. Totals: 24-75, (6-25) 9-17 63 points, 37 rebounds, 9 turnovers.
Colorado Springs—Jon’ll Fugett 17, William Becker 13, Mac Stodart 12, Jayden Washington 11, Beni Fungula 10, Logan Bracamonte 9, Keegan Phillips 5, Jezza McKenzie 4, Noah Baca 4, David Jabedo 4, Sufyan Eklkannan 2. Totals: 32-54 (10-23) 17-21 91 points, 42 rebounds, 15 turnovers.
Chadron State 23 40 —-63
Colorado Springs 39 52 —-91
3-pointers: CSC—McLachlan 5, McCracken 1. UCCS—Washington 3, Bracamonte 3, Stodart 2, Fugett 2.