Feb. 11, 2023

Eagles Win Dramatic Overtime Victory

By Con Marshall

Of all the games the Chadron State College men's basketball teams have played this century, perhaps none of them have been more dramatic than the Eagles' 89-85 overtime victory at Colorado State-Pueblo in Pueblo on Saturday night.

After winning all but one of previous seven games during their now eight-game winning streak by at least 12 points, this one was a nail-biter all way. 

The Eagles were behind on the scoreboard for more than 30 of the 40 minutes during regulation play, and had to come from seven points down in the final two minutes to knot the score at 75-75 so it would go into overtime. They finally sealed the victory when team captain Marcus Jefferson made four free throws in the last four seconds of the extra session.

Now 16-8 for the season and 13-5 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the Eagles had trailed for 17 minutes in the first half before going on an 11-2 run that gave them a 42-35 halftime lead. The rally was capped by a long 3-pointer at the buzzer by guard Bryce Latimer, nearly always the smallest and always the quickest player on the court.

The clutch shot gave Latimer 11 points at halftime. He then scored 15 in the second half and another six in overtime to give him a game-high 32. His output included the two final baskets of the second half. Both were driving layups, the last one with only a second left on the clock.

For the game, Latimer was 14 of 26 from the field, including the first half buzzer-beater, to go with three free throws. The Eagles also got 19 points from Isaiah Wyatt, who was five-of-seven on 3-pointers, and 16 from Jefferson.

Pueblo, now 11-13 overall and 7-11 in the RMAC, was led by 6-foot guard Lian Ramiro, who had four treys among his 10 field goals while scoring 24 points.  Isaiah Thompson and Meekness Payne, both 6-6, 215 pounds, added 18 and 14 points, respectively.  Thompson also claimed 13 rebounds to tie the Eagles' Josh Robinson for game-high rebounding honors. 

CSC center Porter Anderson also grabbed 11 rebounds, seven of them off the offensive glass to help the Eagles score 19 second chance points.

The team stats were similar. Chadron State was 32-66 from the field while Pueblo was 33-63. Each hit seven 3-pointers.  The Eagles could have avoided overtime by doing better at the free throw line. They were just 12 of 23 from the line in regulation, but made all six of their charity shots in overtime.

The Eagles play at Metro State and Colorado Mines in the Denver area this coming weekend before concluding the regular season at home by hosting South Dakota Mines and Black Hills State on Tuesday and Wednesday, Feb. 22 and 23.

Chadron State—Bryce Latimer 32, Isaiah Wyatt 19, Marcus Jefferson 16, Josh Robinson 9, Porter Anderson 5, MJ Foust 5, Jarrett Taylor 3. Totals: 32-66 (7-16) 18-29 89 points, 39 rebounds, 7 turnovers.

CSU-Pueblo—Lian Ramiro 24, Isaiah Thompson 18 Meekness Payne 14, Elijah Moleon 10, Makiah Morris 7, Noble Robinson 6, DeShaun Cooper 4, Micah Lamberth 2. Totals 33-63 (7-18) 12-17 85 points, 35 rebounds, 11 turnovers. 

              Chadron State        42         33          14      ---89

              CSU-Pueblo             35         40           10     ---85

              3-pointers:  CSC—Wyatt 5, Jefferson 1, Latimer 1. CSU-P—Ramiro 4, Payne 2, Morris 1.