By Con Marshall
The Chadron State College men’s basketball team evened its record to 2-2 Tuesday afternoon by downing the Bethany Swedes from Lindsborg, Kansas, 89-72 in the Chicoine Center on the CSC campus.
             Bolstered by a 31 to 13 rebounding margin that helped them score 14 second-chance points, the Eagles built a 48-29 halftime lead.Â
They maintained around a 20-point margin throughout the second half, when Coach Shane Paben substituted freely and none of the starters played more than 11 minutes.
Paben said a goal entering the game was to give the non-starters considerable playing time. All eight of them were on the floor at least 4 ½ minutes and they scored 18 of the team’s 41 second-half points.
The coach noted he was pleased with the teamwork, fast pace and offensive execution that took place, but said the Eagles defense is still a work in progress.
Guard Bryce Latimer was the Eagles’ leading scorer for the fourth straight game with 18 points, eight of them at the free throw line. Forward Josh Robinson finished with both 14 points and 14 rebounds. Several of his seven baskets were made he’d grabbed an offensive rebound.
Also for Chadron State, Trey Ballard came off the bench to tally nine of his 11 points in the second half and Dalton Peterson, Raul Nunez and Jalan Patterson each added nine points. Both Peterson and Nunez canned three treys, while Patterson handed out seven assists.
Bethany, which entered the game with a 1-4 record, saw 11 of its 13 players make the scoring column, led by Maurice Cudjo with 12 points and Kevin Spencer 11.
For the game, both teams shot 42% from the field, but because of their 53-26 rebounding advantage, the Eagles took 75 shots and Bethany 57. Chadron State finished with 30 second-chance points and the Swedes only five.
 Both were 16 of 19 at the free throw line had 15 turnovers. CSC had nine 3-pointers, one more than the visitors.
             The Eagles will play in South Dakota at Sioux Falls University at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Cougars opened the season with three losses by a total of four points, but since then have won 68-57 over Stanislaus State of California and 83-64 over the neighboring Augustana Vikings on Tuesday.
Bethany—Maurice Cudjo 12, Devin Spencer 11, Jamal Frenchwood 9, Donovan Newton 8. Kevin Nze Mba 8, Kobe Krajmc 6. JD Carson 6, Ty Eugene 6, Jelani Moreno 2, Ellis Todd 3, Bryant Jefferson 2. Totals: 24-57 (8-18) 16-19 72 points, 26 rebounds, 15 turnovers.
Chadron State—Bryce Latimer 18, Josh Robinson 14, Trey Ballard 11, Dalton Peterson 9, Jalen Patterson 9, Raul Nunez 9, Porter Anderson 8, Martin Poznanovic 6, John Jenkins 3, Malakai Harris 2. Totals: 32-75 (9-23) 16-19 89 points, 53 rebounds, 15 turnovers.
Bethany College 29 43 —72
Chadron State 48 41 —89
3-pointers: Bethany—Frenchwood, 2, Carlson 2, Todd, Eugene, Spencer, Nze Mba, all 1. CSC—Peterson 3, Nunez 3, Patterson, Ballard, Jenkins, all 1.
Note: Sioux Falls’ losses were to Washburn 82-80, Pittsburg State 65-64 and Sonoma State of California 65-64.