CHADRON, Neb. -- February 8, 2020 -- The struggles continued for the Chadron State College men's basketball Saturday night, when Colorado-Colorado Springs broke a 54-54 tie midway in the second half and went on to defeat the Eagles 75-62 in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest in Chadron.

Chadron State shot 53.8 percent (14-26) from the field in the first half while building a 40-34 halftime lead. But the Eagles went cold in the second half when they hit just 29 percent (9-31) and were outscored 41-22.

Things got worse the longer the game continued for the hosts. They made only three of 15 field goal tries in the final 8 ½ minutes after they'd tied the score at 54 on an old-fashioned 3-point play by freshman Andre Sepeda.

Colorado Springs, now 15-7 overall and 11-6 in the RMAC, didn't blister the nets, making 11 of 30 shots (36.7%) in the opening half and 13 of 27 (48.1%) in the second half for 42 percent overall. But the Mountain Lions sank 10 three-pointers, twice as many as the Eagles, and outscored the hosts 17-11 from the free throw line.

Seniors Padiet Wang and Blend Avdili each scored 15 points to lead the visitors, while junior Parker Gaddis contributed 14 and freshman Alijah Comithier 12.

Chadron State's leading scorers were senior Brian Rodriguez and freshman Andre Sepeda with 16 apiece. While Rodriguez is the Eagles' leading scorer with a 16.7-point average, it was the first time Sepeda had scored in double figures.

Coach Houston Reed said he appreciated the energy the 5-foot-8 Greeley, Colo., product provided. Sepeda was six of eight from the field, including three of five from behind the arc, and the free shot.

"We needed a little spark tonight and got it from Andre," the coach noted.

Reed also liked the three consecutive layups provided by center Jacob Jefferson, in less than two minutes early in the second half, one of them after he'd grabbed a rebound. But Reed said in the final analysis, the Eagles "simply struggled to put the ball in the basket in the second half."

Colorado Springs--Padiet Wang 15, Blend Avdili 15, Parker Gaddis 14, Alijah Comithier 12, Pat Lanipekun 8, Ed Bourke 4, Geoff Kelly 3, William Becker 3, Johnnie Jones III 1. Totals: 24-57 (10-28) 17-24, 75 points, 36 rebounds, 6 turnovers.

Chadron State--Brian Rodriguez 16, Andre Sepeda 16, Jacob Jefferson 10, Stephon Bell 9, Kayden Sund 5, Colby Jackson 2, Kenan Gray 2, Kevin DiMarco 2. Totals: 23-57 (5-20) 11-13, 62 points, 37 rebounds, 12 turnovers.

Colorado Springs 34 41 ----75

Chadron State 40 22 ----62

3-pointers: UCCS--Avdili 3, Gaddis 2, Comithier 2, Lanipekun 2, Wang 1. CSC--Se