By Con Marshall BOX SCORE
The Chadron State College men’s basketball team started slow, but finished strong Saturday night while edging the Regis Rangers 77-73 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game in Chadron.
The Eagles had scored just three points and trailed by 13 when guard Bryce Latimer finally sank a 3-pointer with 11:45 remaining on the first half clock to make the score 16-6. The hosts had missed five field goal attempts, got no offensive rebounds and had turned the ball over five times before Latimer finally connected with his trey.
The 13-point deficit turned out to be game’s largest point spread, but the Denver team still led 38-31 at halftime.
The Rangers went ahead by 11 points early in the second half before the Eagles started whittling down the deficit. They initially tied the score at 48-48 with 13 ½ minutes remaining, but didn’t take the lead for keeps until center Martin Poznanovic grabbed an offensive rebound, scored on the putback and added a free throw to make it 61-59 in the Eagles’ favor with 6:38 remaining.
Chadron State led the rest of the way, once by as many as seven points, but Regis cut it to 75-73 when Chase Mayo Harmon turned an offensive rebound into a basket with nine seconds left.
When the Eagles attempted to put the ball in bounds, the Rangers forced a jump ball, but the possession arrow favored the home team. The second pass went to CSC’s Raul Nunez, who was fouled and made both free throws to seal the verdict.
Free throw shooting was a shortcoming for the Eagles. They had made just four of 11 until Nunez sank his clutch shots. The visitors were 9-14 at the line.
Each team had four players score in double figures. Forward Josh Robison with 19 points and Poznanovic with 17 paced the Eagles.
Robinson, who had just four points at halftime, was nine of 12 from the field and Poznanovic was seven of nine. They also combined for 17 rebounds, helping CSC to a 40-34 edge off the glass. Latimer added 13 points and Nunez 10 for the winners.
Both Ty Cox and Trey Bryant tallied 14 points and Harmon and CJ Reed both scored 13 for Regis.
Now 6-4 for the season and 4-1 in the RMAC, the Eagles shot 52.5% from the field, including 20 of 35 for 57% in the second half. Regis shot right at 43% in each half and is now 5-5 for the season and 2-3 in the conference.
The Eagles will conclude their pre-Christmas schedule Sunday afternoon by hosting Colorado-Colorado Springs, following the women’s game that will tip off at 2 o’clock.
Regis—Tim Cox 14, Trey Bryant 14, Jalen Brown 13, Chase Mayo Harmon 13, Olifur Stymisson 8, CJ Reed 5, Tarig Eisa 4, Eddy Egun 2. Totals: 30-69 (4-18) 9-14 73 points, 34 rebounds, 7 turnovers.
Chadron State—Josh Robinson 19, Martin Poznanovic 17, Bryce Latimer 13, Raul Nunez 10, Dalton Peterson 9, Porter Anderson 4, Jarrett Taylor 3, Akene Agee 2. Totals: 32-61 (7-21) 6-13 77 points, 40 rebounds, 12 turnovers.
Regis 38 35 —73
Chadron State 31 46 —77
3-pointers: Regis—Brown, Harmon, Reed, Bryant, all 1. CSC—Peterson 3, Nunez 2, Latimer 1, Taylor 1.