PITTSBURG, Kan. — Chadron State rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to briefly take the lead in the fourth quarter, but Pittsburg State answered late and held on for a 21-17 win Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

The loss ends Chadron State’s season at 8-4 and marks the program’s first postseason appearance since 2012. It was the Eagles’ third straight game against a top-five opponent, with all three decided by one score.

Wide receiver Tommy Thomas broke the school’s all-time receptions record with five catches for 87 yards, including his 15th touchdown of the season. The senior from Fort Collins finished his career with 195 receptions, surpassing the previous mark of 192 held by Cole Thurness.

“I am so proud of our guys,” head coach Jay Long said. “We played eight road games, two overtime games and four ranked opponents. Our kids never flinched and played their hearts out for one another.”

Pittsburg State (10-2) opened the game with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and led 14-3 at halftime. Chadron State stayed in the game with timely defensive stops and benefited from three missed field goals by the Gorillas.

CSC climbed back with a fourth-down touchdown catch by Thomas late in the third quarter, then took its only lead at 17-14 with 10:10 remaining after a two-yard run by Daytuawn Pearson and a two-point conversion.

Pittsburg State regained the lead on the next drive and stopped Chadron State’s final two possessions with fourth-down interceptions. The Eagles finished with 308 total yards to the Gorillas’ 306, including 233 passing yards from quarterback DJ Ralph.

Pittsburg State advances to face top regional seed Harding in next week’s second round.

Women's Hoops Outscored vs. Wayne State

WAYNE, Neb. – All 13 Wayne State players scored as the Wildcats raced past Chadron State 95-53 in a women's non-conference basketball game played in Wayne.  

Audrey Quintana scored 15 points for the Eagles while freshman Kenna Wagner poured in 14, but long scoring droughts in the first half allowed Wayne State to open up a large lead and cruise from there. Quintana shot 6-for-12 from the field and made three three-pointers.

Amya Winfrey lead the Eagles defensively with two blocks and six rebounds. Wagner and Asia Gibson each had two steals.

The teams traded points early and were tied at 11-11 in the first four-and-a-half minutes. But the Eagles didn't score the remainder of the opening quarter, allowing Wayne State to take a 21-11 lead at the first break.

The Wildcats extended their lead to 30-16 in the first four minutes of the second period. Chadron State scored the next five points, but failed to score again in the quarter while the hosts poured in 17 straight points to build a 47-21 halftime margin.

Wayne State also had a strong third quarter, making 10 of 15 field goal shots and outscoring CSC 26-13 to hold a 73-44 lead going into the final 10 minutes.  

Things were much more even in the fourth, when the Cats scored 22 points and the Eagles 19.

Wayne State, now 4-0 for the season was 36-69 (52.2 percent) overall from the field, but did even better than that from 3-point range, making 11 of 18 (61.1 percent). 

Chadron State was 19 of 52 (36.5 percent) from the field, including 8 of 28 (28.6 percent) from behind the arc. CSC was nearly perfect from the free throw line, making 7 of 8, but the hosts were 12-22 at the stripe to still have the advantage on the scoreboard. The Eagles turned the ball over 36 times and the Wildcats 19. Wayne won the rebounding battle 40-33.

Coach Jalen Little's team will visit the University of Wyoming on Tuesday, Nov. 25, and go to Northern Colorado on Friday for exhibition games before opening its RMAC season at Black Hills State at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4. The first home game will be versus South Dakota Mines at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6 in the Chicoine Center. 

Chadron State—Audrey Quintana 15, Kenna Wagner 14, McKenzi Petersen 6, Ella Moser 6, Amya Winfrey 5, Dreanna Jackson 3, Asia Gibson 2, Bianca Bindzus 2. Totals: 19-52  FG (8-28 3PT) 7-8 FT. 53 points, 33 rebounds, 9 assists, 36 turnovers.

Wayne State—Rachel Dahlen 15, Tenleigh Smith 12, Kelsey Willems 11, Kylah vanDonkersgoed 10, Emma Frost 9, Lily Fitzgerald 7, Addy Johnson 7, Ella Sharar 7, Cassie Allen 7, Sammie Allen 3, Katelyn Diegnau 3, Meg Reitz 2, Jessica Black 2. Totals: 36-69 FG (11-18 3PT) 12-22 FT. 95 points, 40 rebounds, 21 assists, 19 turnovers.

Eagles Cold Against Sioux Falls

CHADRON, Neb. - The Chadron State College basketball team had a cold night shooting while falling 84-57 to the University of Sioux Falls on Friday in the first round of the classic the Cougars are hosting this weekend.
 
The Eagles shot just 36% (22-61) from the field, including only 22.7 (5-22) from 3-point range, and 53.3% (8-15) at the free throw line.

Sioux Falls didn't do much better in the first half and led by just 32-26 at halftime, but warmed up in the second half and outscored Chadron State 52-31 in the final 20 minutes.

The win was first of the season in three starts for the Cougars while the Eagles, who were coming off a thrilling 83-82 victory over the Mary Marauders at home on Wednesday afternoon, are 1-3 for the young season.

The Cougars shot just 35.5% (12-34) from the field in the opening half, when they  made only 3-of-18 shots from behind the arc, and were 5-of-9 at the free throw line.  But in the second half, Sioux Falls shot 17 of 34 from the field for 50%, including 5-of-13 on 3-pointers, and made 13 of 14 free throws. 

The Cougars' 53-to-34 rebounding advantage led to their 42-to-26 bulge in second-chance points. They also scored 18 points off turnovers while CSC had 10. 

The Eagles' scoring leaders were two of their international players.  Mack Keighran, a Australian, finished with 17 points, and Luka Djurovic, from Montenegro in eastern Europe, scored 12 points and was the game's leading rebounder with nine.

Both shot 50% from the field with Keighran going 7 of 14 and Djurovic 5 of 10. 

Four Cougars scored in double figures.  Brandon Hrncir, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, led with 17 points while guard Taylen Ashley had 15, Kyle Ingwerson 14 and Jacoby Meehrman 10.

Ingwerson hit four 3-pointers for half of the Sioux Falls total and Ashley added three. 

The Eagles will meet Minnesota State from Mankato at 7 p.m. (CT) Saturday in the second round of the Sioux Falls Classic.   The Mavericks are 4-2 for the season after losing to Grand Valley State of Michigan 76-55 on Friday.

Chadron State—Mack Keighran 17, Luka Durovic 12, Ethan Russell 9, Jadon Cool 7, Isaiah Randolph 5, Blessing Adesipe 2, Nick Collin 2, Jovan Jovanovic 2, Zach Smith 1. Totals: 22-621 (5-22 3pt.) 8-15 57 points, 34 rebounds, 9 assists, 16 turnovers.

Sioux Falls—Bradon Hrncir 17. Taylen Ashley 15, Kyle Ingwerson 14, Jacoby Mehrman 10, Bogan Madson 8, Byron Laue 8, Lewis Woosnam 4, Alex Mattes 4, Marshall Smythe 2, Lewis Malcolm 2. Totals: 29-68 (8-13 3pt.) 18-23 84 points, 53 rebounds, 20 assists, 13 turnovers.