By Con Marshall BOX SCORE
Six of nine shooting from 3-point range by junior Dalton Peterson was one of the leading factors Tuesday night when the Chadron State men’s basketball team won an 80-73 decision over Colorado Christian during a hard-fought, fast-paced Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game in Chadron
Led by Peterson’s long-range sharpshooting, the Eagles were 11 of 27 from behind the arc while the visiting Cougars were six of 20 on 3-point attempts, giving Chadron State a 15-point advantage in that comparison.
Altogether, the Eagles were 31-58 from the field for 53.4%, while the Cougars were 29-59 for 49.3%. The entire 3-point difference took place in the first half. That’s when Chadron State was six of 16 and Colorado Christian just one of nine. Both teams sank five of 11 shots from downtown in the second half.
The Eagles led 44-36 at halftime and were ahead for all but about two minutes in the second half. Christian never led by more than a single point. One of Peterson’s treys with 9:25 to play gave Chadron State the lead for good at 61-59. The spread varied from five to eight points during the game’s final 3 ½ minutes, when the teams traded baskets and the onlookers were on the edge of their seats.
Peterson, a 6-foot-3 native of Encampment, Wyo., and a transfer from Casper College, was the Eagles’ leading scorer with 20 points. Guard Jalen Patterson was next on the CSC score sheet with 13 points. Seniors Bryce Latimer and Josh Robinson each added 11 points. Robinson also grabbed the most rebounds—eight–one more than teammate Porter Anderson and the Cougars’ Bradley Land.
The game’s high scorer was the Cougars’ crafty 6-foot junior Noah Kon with 32 points. He was 13 of 19 from the field, while going three of six on 3-point shots and making three of five free throws. Kon’s backcourt mate, Nic Zeil, and 6-6 freshman Bradley Land each added 10 points.
The Eagles are now 5-4 overall and 3-1 in the RMAC. Christian is 4-6 and 1-3.
Chadron State will wrap up its pre-Christmas schedule by hosting Regis and Colorado-Colorado Springs on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Both double-headers will tip off at 2 o’clock with the women’s contests.
Colorado Christian—Noah Kon 32, Nic Zeil 10, Bradley Land 10, Jacob Everson 6, Schafer Reichart 6, Brenden Patrick 4, Shay Woodberry 3, OgheneMaro Egedotaye 2. Totals 29-59 (6-20) 9-13 73 points, 28 rebounds, 7 turnovers.
Chadron State—Dalton Peterson 20, Jalen Patterson 13, Bryce Latimer 11, Josh Robinson 11, Martin Poznanovic 8, Porter Anderson 7, Raul Nunez 7, Jarrett Taylor 3. Totals: 31-58 (11-27) 7-13 80 points, 35 rebounds, 11 turnovers.
Colorado Christian 36 37 —-73
Chadron State 44 36 —-80
3-pointers: CCU—Kon 3, Zeil 2, Woodberry 1. CSC—Peterson 6, Patterson 3, Nunez 1, Taylor 1.