CHADRON, Neb. -- The Chadron State College basketball teams will be wrapping up their home schedules this weekend while playing double-headers in the Chicoine Center starting at 5:30 both Friday and Saturday nights with the women's games.

Between the game, the seniors will be recognized.  The only senior on the women's team is Awoti Akoi.  There are five players concluding their college careers on the men's team.  They are Porter Anderson, Bryce Latimer, Martin Poznanovic, Josh Robinson and Jarrett Taylor. 
             
The Eagles will be hosting Metro State of Denver on Friday and Colorado School of Mines of Golden on Saturday.  The regular season schedules will conclude when the Eagles play at South Dakota Mines in Rapid City and Black Hills State in Spearfish on March 1 and 2, respectively.
             
Now 11-13 for the season and 8-10 and tied for seventh and eighth place in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference standings, the Chadron State men remain in contention for a post-season playoff berth.  The eight teams with the best records following the March 2 contests will advance.
             
After winning five of their first six conference games prior to the holidays, the Eagles were high in the RMAC team standings, but since losing their last four conference games—all of them by narrow margins or in overtime—they are in "must win" situations.  The good news for Coach Shane Paben's team is: It can still happen.
             
This weekend's opponents are rugged. 
             
Friday night's opponent, Metro State, is 16-8 for the season and 10-8 in the RMAC, putting the Roadrunners fifth in the standings.  They defeated the Eagles 84-63 at home in the first game in the 2024 portion of the schedule.
             
Since then, they have won seven conference games and lost five. Four Metro men are averaging in double figures, paced by 6-foot sophomore guard Brayden Maldonado. He is leading the team in 3-pointers with 50, has made 103-of-116 free throws and is averaging 17.8 points.
             
Caleb McGill, a 6-8 junior, is next on the scoring list at 14.5 points.  He was one of three Roadrunners who scored 17 points against the Eagles in the game played in Denver. So did Mario Lacy, also 6-8, and the team's top rebounder at 8.2 a game.
             
Despite graduating several of its team leaders from a year ago when Mines was 25-4 after besting the Eagles in the RMAC playoff game, the Orediggers are a power again this season. Although they have lost three of their last five games, they began this week with a 20-6 season record and were 14-4, good for third place, in the conference lineup. 
             
Balanced scoring is one of keys to Mines' success. The top scorer is 6-4 senior Majok Deng, who is averaging 15.4 points and draws lots of fouls.  He's 103-of-129 at the line. At 10.6 points a game, sophomore guard Cade Mankle is the only other double-figure scorer on the Mines roster, but four others are averaging at least eight points.
             
The Chadron State women won their only game on the road this season so far when they shot 58.5% from the field and defeated Metro 78-63 in Denver to open the New Year schedule.

The win was triggered by Kylie Krise, who hit 7-of-8 three-pointers while scoring 23 points.

The Lady Roadrunners are 7-16 for the season and 6-12 in the league standings, pretty much out of the playoff hunt. But they have won four of their last six games, three of them on the road. The team leader without a doubt is 5-8 sophomore guard Mikylah Espinosa, who averaging 15.6 points.

Espinosa has been the team's leading scorer eight of the last nine games and she has tallied 30 or more points three times during that stretch.  None of her teammates is averaging more than 8.5 points.

Although they have lost three of their last four games, the Colorado Mines women are 19-5 overall and 14-4 in conference play.  That ties them for fourth in the standings.

The Orediggers definitely have a leading candidate for RMAC Player of the Year.  She's 5-8 senior Ashley Steffeck from Fort Collins. She is averaging 19.2 points while also leading the team in 3-point shooting (56-140), free throw shooting (157-173), rebounding (7.0 per game), assists (86) and steals (81).

Watching her should be well worth the price of admission.  

During Chadron State's basketball games against the Roadrunners on Friday, accommodations will be made to make the environment sensory friendly for the first Neurodiversity Awareness games.
 
This event is designed to be inclusive and accommodating for individuals who may face sensory challenges, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the excitement of a college basketball game in a comfortable environment. By attending, you'll not only have a great time but also show your solidarity with families who often struggle to find suitable recreational activities for their loved ones. 

"We wanted to figure out a way that we could make a change in our community as well as provide an inclusive environment to everyone in the area to be able to attend our athletic events," said CSC Head Volleyball Coach and one of the event organizers, Jennifer Stadler. " A lot of people and families are affected by sensory sensitivities and to be able to accommodate and provide an opportunity for them to fill included is A big deal. It's all about inclusion."

Neurodiversity is often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder, as well as other neurological and developmental conditions such as ADHD or learning disabilities. One way it manifests itself is a sensitivity to loud or sudden noises, bright or flashing lights, and other intense sensory outputs.
 
The game will feature noise reduction, elimination of in-game flashing videos on the scoreboard, ribbon board or media tables and dimming of arena lighting, all in an effort to create a more sensory-friendly atmosphere. Additionally, there will be a sensory safe room located in the Chicoine office Nauslar room-which is reserved for spectrum guests and others with special needs and their families-where they can also watch the game on monitors.