GUNNISON, Colo. --  December 14, 2019 -- After trailing by 17 points with 43 seconds remaining in the first half, the Chadron State College men's basketball team drew within a single point of Western Colorado on Friday night, but missed a few key shots in the final seconds and lost to the Mountaineers 69-66 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference clash in Gunnison.

In summary, it was the wrong night to play the Mountaineers.  They were hot from three-point range. Through the previous eight games, they had made just 32.5 percent of their shots from behind the arc, but Friday night they canned 13 of 24 shots (54.2%).

All but six of the Mountaineers' field goals were from long range.  They also sank 18 of 21 free throws.

The Eagles were eight of 23 on 3-pointers and 16 of 19 at the line.

"You have to give them credit," CSC Coach Houston Reed said of the hosts. "They really shot three-pointers well.  We fought back and were more in tune with one another in the second half.  We had the opportunity to win down the stretch, but had some shots that didn't go in."

Chadron State led 10-8 three minutes into the game, by was scoreless the next six minutes and Western went on a 12-point run.  Bolstered by 8-of-14 marksmanship on three-pointers in the first half, the Mountaineers were ahead 43-26 with 43 seconds left in the half.

The Eagles got some momentum just as the half was ending when senior guards Michael Sparks and Colby Jackson each nailed a trey.  Jackson's volley was from the back court as the buzzer was sounding.

Sophomore center Jacob Jefferson gave Chadron State another boost midway in the second half by making three baskets in a 48-second span to cut the Mountaineers' lead to 57-50.  From there the Eagles continued to chip away, cutting the margin to 67-64 on two free shots by Brady Delimont with 66 seconds remaining.

In the final 23 seconds, both Jackson and Jefferson made one of two free shots.  After the second miss, the Eagles intentionally fouled Cole Sienknecht, who made both shots with three seconds left. Sparks was able to launch about a 25-foot shot that hit the backboard and the rim, but didn't go through the net.

Five Mountaineers scored in double figures. James Willis, a 6-1 senior who was five of six on three-point attempts, led with 16, followed by Seinknecht and Monroe Porter with 12 apiece and Jackson Ehrlin and Conner Shaw with 11 apiece.  Shaw was one of six from behind the arc prior to making all three of those shots against the Eagles.

Delimont led the Eagles with 14 points, Jefferson scored 13 and Jackson 10.

Western is now 4-5 and Chadron State 2-7.  Both are 1-2 in the RMAC.  The Eagles will visit Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction tonight (Saturday).  The Mavericks edged Metro State-Denver 60-58 Friday night.

Chadron State--Brady Delimont 14, Jacob Jefferson 13, Colby Jackson 10, Brian Rodriguez 9, Kenan Gray 6, Stephon Bell 4, Michael Sparks 3, Dom Coleman 3, Walker Andrew 2, Kevin DiMarco 2. Totals: 21-56 (8-23) 16-19, 66 points, 26 rebounds, 10 turnovers.
Western Colorado--James Willis 16, Monroe Porter 12, Cole Sienknecht 12, Jackson Ehrlin 11, Connor Shaw 11,  Avery Rembao 3, Brian Read 2, Will Willis 2.  Totals: 19-45 (13-24) 18-21, 69 points, 36 rebounds, 17 turnovers.

                Chadron State                32              34         ----66
                Western Colorado          43             26         ----69

                3-pointers: CSC--Rodriguez 3, Delimont 2, Jackson 1, Sparks 1, Coleman 1. WCU--Willis 5, Shaw 3, Porter 2, Sienkneckt 2. Rembao 1,