CHADRON, Neb. – Chadron State put five players in double figures while Blessing Adesipe tallied 13 rebounds and four blocks, but the Western Colorado Mountaineers emerged with an 80-76 nail-bater over homestanding Chadron State in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest on Thursday night.

Chadron State outscored Western Colorado 42-24 in points in the paint, but could only hit 4 of 27 from three-point range in the loss. Chadron HS freshman Brady Daniels, making his Chicoine Center competitive debut, went 2-for-5 from beyond the arc to account for half of CSC's three-point makes and played 19 minutes after previously having played 10 in his career. 

Guard Jadon Cool was the pacesetter with 16, followed by Isaiah Randoph with 14, Luka Djurovic with 12 and Zach Smith and Adesipe with 10 apiece. Adesipe's rebounds and blocks were both game-highs.

The leading scorer in NCAA Division II, sophomore Aiden McDowell, scored 29 points Thursday, two more than his season average. A native of Crete, Nebraska, the 6-foot-4 McDowell didn't force many, if any, of his shots, but scored 17 points  in the first half and a dozen more in the second half while going seven of 13 from the field and drawing enough fouls to sink 13 of 14 free throws for nearly half of his total. McDowell is now 192 of 214 at the free throw line for 89.7 percent.

The game was close and hotly-contested the entire way. Although Western State led for nearly 16-and-a-half minutes in the first half and had the game's largest lead of 11-points—35-24—with 7:21 left in the half, the score was knotted at 47-47 at intermission. The Mountaineers led twice by as many a seven points, but the Eagles played hard and remained in the hunt, as the lead changed hands 12 times total in the game.

Their last lead was at 63-62 with 7:23 left. Two minutes later, McDowell's layup put his team ahead 70-63.  But sparked by Isaiah Randolph's hard-nosed layup, followed by Jaden Cool's dunk, the Eagles clawed back into contention.  

The hosts drew even closer when Daniels sank a three-pointer to make the score 74-72 with 2:13 to play.  Neither team scored again for about 90 seconds before Western's 6-11 center from Czech Republic, Joanis Koulisianis, made two free shots with 47 seconds left, giving him 13 total points, all of them in the second half.

When the Eagles took possession again, Adesipe immediately threw down a layup, cutting  Western's lead to 76-74. Undoubtedly the biggest shot of the game followed. Intent on running down the clock, the Mountaineers used as much time as possible before the shot clock would expire. That's when Shawn Rose sank a 15-foot jumper with eight seconds remaining to put the visitors up by four again and seal the verdict, although each team made a pair of free shots before the final buzzer sounded.

While the Eagles made 23 of their 46 two-point attempts, three-point baskets deserted them. It was the first time in 14 games dating back to January 10 that CSC didn't make at least seven three-pointers and they'd meshed 10 or more treys in eight of those contests. 

The Eagles, now 6-21 for the season, will play their final game of the season at 3 o'clock Saturday in the Chicoine Center.  Western is now 9-18 and will be wrapping up its season against South Dakota Mines in Rapid City at the same time. 
 
Western Colorado—Aiden McDowell 29, Joanis Koulisianis 13, Tyler Halligan 10, Mason Mottashed 9, Reese Strawn 7, Quincy Scott 6, Jordan Kuac 6. Totals: 25-59 FG, 10-24 3PT, 20-22 FT, 80 points, 43 rebounds, 12 assists, 16 turnovers.'       '
Chadron State—Jadon Cool 16, Isaiah Randolph 4, Luka Djurovic 12, Zach Smith 10, Blessing Adesipe 10, Mack Keighran 8, Brady Daniels 6.  Totals: 27-73 FG, (4-27 3PT) 18-21 FT), 76 points, 36 rebounds, 9 assists, 4 turnovers.