BELLEVUE, Neb. -- November 15, 2016 -- Chadron State College men's basketball (0-1) both outshot and outrebounded Bellevue University (4-4), but the Bruins were able to capitalize on second half fouls and had just enough to outlast the Eagles 78-77 in the regular season opener for CSC.

The Eagles shot accurately from three-point range, led by Warren Gordon's 27 points on 6-of-9 from long range. Gordon added three assists and four rebounds in the game.

Chadron State was also able to pound the ball inside, as evidenced by Austin Hall's 7-of-11 shooting for 15 points and Jordan Perry's 4-of-5, finishing with 12 points.

"Defensively we could have been a lot better," said head men's basketball coach Houston Reed. "We had some points of emphasis on personnel that we didn't capitalize on. We had the size advantage and the athletic advantage, but we just gave up some rebounds where we didn't do our jobs. You can really tell it's our first game and it's their eighth. If they don't get seven offensive rebounds in the first half, we probably have a double digit lead at halftime."

The tale of two halves was the story of the game. CSC was in control all first half, never trailing and going into the break up 43-41. In the second half, Perry and Gordon, who accounted for 31 of the Eagles' 43 first half points, each picked up their third foul within the first three minutes, sending them both to the bench.

During a seven-minute span, in which Perry played only two and a half minutes due to foul trouble, CSC saw their five-point lead go to a 13-point deficit in a 20-2 run by the home team.

In the final 2:51 of the game, down 11, Gordon hit two of his six three-pointers, and the Eagles held Bellevue without a field goal, to close to within one on Leigh Saffin's buzzer-beating three-point shot.

"We saw the ball go in the hole," said Reed, "and we shared the ball. We gave ourselves a chance. I challenged them to make a run out of the last timeout, and they did."

"It's an opportunity to learn what conference road games are going to be like. I told our guys this could be the best thing to happen to us if they take it the right way."

Chadron State opens at home on Friday, November 18, with coach Houston Reed's alma mater, Northern State. 

Scoring Summary

                          1          2         T
Chadron State  43        34        77 
Bellevue           41        37        78