CHADRON, Neb. – For the second time in as many home games, Chadron State men's basketball took the lead with under 10 seconds remaining and emerged with a one-point win, defeating the Northern State Wolves 74-73 on Saturday at the Chicoine Center. 

This time, true freshman Luka Djurovic was the hero, catching an inbounds pass and hitting a turnaround hook shot over two defenders with 2.8 seconds to play to put the Eagles in front and a desperation full-court pass from the Wolves immediately after did not result in a clean look.

The win – 10 days after a similar one-point home win over the University of Mary – improves CSC's record to 2-4. Northern State fell to 1-5 with the loss. It is the first-ever win over Northern State in the history of CSC men's basketball, with the Wolves winning all eight previous match-ups.

During Saturday's game, the lead changed hands 13 times, including twice in the final nine seconds, along with 10 ties. The Eagles shot 46.4 percent from the field (26-56), 33.3 percent from three (8-24) and 70 percent from the line (14-20). 

The Eagles won despite forcing just two turnovers but committed a season-low seven. Chadron State outrebounded their opponents 41 to 34, CSC's first time this year winning the rebounding battle, and their field goal defense held the opposition to 40.6 percent shooting, the lowest of any Eagle opponent thus far.

Individually, Australian point guard Mack Keighran scored 21 points, shooting 5 of 9 from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line. Keighran also had a team-high five assists, including on the inbounds pass to Djurovic's go-ahead bucket.

Jovan Jovanovic finished with 15 points on 6 of 8 shooting, hitting three three-pointers while Keighran and Jadon Cool each hit two apiece. Djurovic, who added 12 points, and Blessing Adesipe had nine rebounds apiece to lead the Eagles in that category.

Cool finished with 11 points as the fourth and final Eagle in double figures. Cool and Isaiah Randolph (8 pts, 7 reb., 3-3 FG), who entered as CSC's leading scorers, were both limited by foul trouble, so several Eagles played a season-high in minutes, including Djurovic (37), Keighran (32) and Jovanovic (22). 

Redshirt sophomore Ethan Russell, a transfer to CSC from Northern State and a native of Aberdeen, South Dakota, where NSU is located, did not score on three shot attempts for the Eagles but contributed two rebounds and a block. 

Things looked dire early for Chadron State, as the visitors rained down three-pointers early and led 16-5 after five minutes. The Eagles clawed back into the game with a 10-0 run featuring a layup and two free throws from Keighran plus a three and a layup by Jovanovic flipping the score to a 26-24 CSC advantage.

Northern State closed on a 12-5 run to take a 40-35 lead into halftime, but the Eagles quickly erased that halftime deficit with a Djurovic jumper and a Cool three-pointer while holding the Wolves scoreless for the second half's opening five minutes, a stark contrast from the 16 points in five minutes from the first half.

No team had a lead of more than five points in the entire second half. Northern State went up by the margin at 60-55 with 7:27 to go, but the Eagles tied it with a basket from Jovanovic and a three-pointer from Blessing Adesipe. Chadron State led by a basket for much of the final five minutes.

Northern State's James Glenn, who scored a game-high 26 points, did everything he could to lift the Wolves to a win, converting an and-one layup for a three-point play to make it 71-70 Eagles, then splashing home a three-pointer to give Northern State a 73-72 lead with nine seconds to go after Randolph went 1-for-2 from the line.

At the other end, Keighran drove the lane but was fouled on the floor, giving Chadron State an inbounds play trailing by one with 5.1 seconds to go. Keighran passed to Djurovic, who collected, spun around over his right shoulder and swished his floating five-foot hook shot perfectly through the net for a Chadron State lead. 

The Eagles will look to improve their 2-0 home record on Sunday, when CSC welcomes Colorado Christian for a nonconference game. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

​Chadron State—Mack Keighran 21, Jovan Jovanovic 15, Luka Djurovic 12, Jadon Cool 11, Isaiah Randolph 8, Blessing Adesipe 7. Totals: 26-56 FG (8-24 3PT) 14-20 FT. 74 points, 41 rebounds, 12 assists, 7 turnovers.

​Northern State—James Glenn 26, Marshawn Smith 21, Joshua Book 10, Benjamin Bowen 8, Cameron Mercadel 3, Lane Tietz 3, Simon Akena 2. Totals: 28-69 FG (10-32 3PT) 7-9 FT. 73 points, 34 rebounds, 14 assists, 2 turnovers.