RAPID CITY, S.D. – Chadron State shot a blistering 70 percent from the field in the second half, Isaiah Randolph and Mack Keighran scored 22 points apiece, and Chadron State men's basketball earned a key rivalry win against South Dakota Mines, prevailing 88-79 in Rapid City on Thursday night. 

The win, which came in Chadron State's fourth game in the past eight days, improves CSC's record to 5-15 overall and 3-9 in RMAC play. South Dakota Mines drops to 9-10 overall and 6-5 in the RMAC. 

The Eagles, who led 36-33 at halftime, shot 56.9 percent from the floor for the game and 57.1 percent from three-point range. In the second half alone, the Eagles made 21 of 30 field goal attempts (70 percent) and 7 of 11 long-range shots (63.6 percent). 

The Hardrockers were no slouches on offense either, shooting 48.4 percent from the field for the game and 62 percent in the second half themselves, but it wasn't enough to keep pace with the Chadron State attack.

Chadron State had a three-headed monster of Randolph and Keighran with 22 each plus Jadon Cool with 18 points. All three were lethally efficient – Randolph shot 9-for-15 from the floor while Keighran was 8-for-12 and Cool was 7-for-13. 

Keighran led the way from deep with four made three-pointers, with Cool adding three triples. Zach Smith and Blessing Adesipe had two three-pointers each. Randolph also had a game-high eight rebounds and a team-high five assists.

The game started slowly. Chadron State only made 3 of its first 11 field goal attempts and found itself trailing 14-9 after eight-and-a-half minutes of game time. The Hardrockers led 28-22 with five minutes to go in the first half, but CSC went on an 11-2 with a Randolph layup and threes by Luka Djurovic, Cool and Keighran to go up 33-30. The teams traded points before CSC went into the locker room up by three, 36-33. 

In the second half, the Eagles started out on fire and scarcely slowed down. Chadron State made its first five field goal attempts and tacked on a pair of free throws for good measure, scoring 14 points in the half's first four minutes to lead 50-44. 

The teams continued to trade shot after shot, answering one another's baskets with a make of their own. Chadron State maintained its lead throughout the second half but didn't lead by more than seven points until there were five minutes left in the game. 

After Randolph hit a jumper, the Eagles forced a turnover and Randolph found Blessing Adesipe for a three as the Eagles built their largest lead of the night at 78-66 with 4:26 left.

Cool punctuated things with a dunk to put CSC back up by nine – 86-77 – with 29 seconds left, then the Eagles found Keighran on a fastbreak for a layup after an SDM miss for their final two points with 13 seconds remaining. 

The Eagles outrebounded South Dakota Mines 30-24 and got 31 points from their bench compared to 15 for SDM. Jason Lee scored a game-high 27 points for South Dakota Mines on 22 field goal attempts.

Chadron State has a full seven days until its next game, when the Eagles hit the road to face Colorado Christian (8-11, 3-8 RMAC) and CSU Pueblo (13-6, 7-4 RMAC).

​Chadron State—Isaiah Randolph 22, Mack Keighran 22, Jadon Cool 18, Luka Djurovic 9, Zach Smith 8, Blessing Adesipe 7, Ethan Russell 2. Totals: 33-58 FG (12-21 3PT) 10-14 FT. 88 points, 30 rebounds, 17 assists, 10 turnovers.

​South Dakota Mines—Jason Lee 27, Gray Thompson 14, Fred Libby 13, Darren Wallace 10, Ryan Sweeney 9, Luke Baltz 4, Guido Wanschelbaum 2. Totals: 31-64 FG (12-29 3PT) 5-11 FT. 79 points, 24 rebounds, 18 assists, 8 turnovers.