CHADRON, Neb. -- February 22, 2020 -- A year ago when the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys visited Chadron State College for a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game, they took 33 shots from three-point range and made just five of them, perhaps setting a record for 3-point futility.  The Eagles won 80-69.

Saturday night, the Cowboys were back in town, fired 35 shots from behind the arc and sank 18 to match the number of most treys ever made against the Eagles.  Highlands won 96-76.    

The Eagles' shooting stats for the two games were similar.  They were 28 of 56 from the field, including 7-of-17 on three-pointers and 17 of 23 from the free throw line a year ago. This year, CSC was 26 of 58 from the field and 14 of 29 from long range to go with 10 of 17 at the charity stripe, but could not keep pace with hot-shooting Cowboys.

"You have to give them credit," CSC Head Men's Basketball Coach Houston Reed said. "Highlands had the better coaches, the better players and the better execution tonight. We had a slow start, got back in it, but didn't respond defensively the way I thought we could have."

Highlands jumped out to a 12-3 lead in the first 3 ½ minutes, but the Eagles scored the next nine points to tie the count and led at 20-19 and 22-21 before the Cowboys broke away. They were 18 of 28 from the field (64.3%), including 10 of 17 on threes, while building a 54-37 halftime lead.    

The visitors maintained at least a 15-point lead and were on top by as many as 32 (93-61) with 4:19 to play. The Eagles finished strong and were outscored by just three points, 42-39, in the second half.    

Now 17-9 for the season and 12-9 in the RMAC, the Cowboys shot 59 percent from the field for the game, including their 18 of 35 marksmanship from behind the arc.  The latter numbers are exactly what Montana State-Billings also launched on Nov. 21, 2017 in Billings to establish the all-time three-point high against the Eagles.   

The New Mexico team was led by senior Raquan Mitchell with 28 points while going 11 of 12 from the field, including five of six on treys.  Juniors Sammy Barnes-Thompkins and Desmond Carpenter each tallied 18 points while combining to nail 7 of 17 from downtown.

The Eagles didn't play badly, but could not keep pace despite getting 48 points from forward Brian Rodriguez and guard Michael Sparks.

Rodriguez was nine of 16 from the field, including four of nine on 3-pointers, and six of eight at the line, giving him 28 points to go with his career-high 35 Friday night during the Eagles' 82-73 win over Colorado State-Pueblo.

Sparks had just three points at halftime, but finished with 20 while making six of nine shots from behind the arc, including all four of his long range attempts in the game's final three minutes.

No one else had more than six points for the Eagles, who will wrap up their season next Friday night by hosting Metro State-Denver.    

New Mexico Highlands--Raquan Mitchell 28, Sammy Barnes-Thompkins 18, Desmond Carpenter 18, Jaylenn Domina-Lovato 10, Darius Harrison 6, DJ Bustos 6, Will Johnson 4, David Hall 3, Mario Archuleta 3. Totals: 25-59 (18-36) 8-12, 96 points, 30 rebounds, 7 turnovers.
Chadron State--Brian Rodriguez 28, Michael Sparks 20, Andre Sepeda 6, Kenan Gray 6, Brady Delimont 6, Colby Jackson 5, Jacob Jefferson 2, Kayden Sund 2, Devin Buderus 1. Totals: 26-58 (14-29) 10-17, 76 points, 32 rebounds, 10 turnovers.

                N.M. Highlands            54         42       ----96
                Chadron State               37         39      ----76

3-pointers: NMHU--Mitchell 5, Carpenter 4, Barnes-Thompkins 3, Bustos 2, Domina-Lovato 2, Hall 1, Archuleta 1.  CSC--Sparks 6, Rodriguez 4, Delimont 2, Jackson 1, Sepeda 1.