CHADRON, NEB. - The No. 18 Metro State College men's basketball team pulled off another tight victory on Saturday night winning 85-83 over Chadron State to clinch the regular season Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title. The Roadrunners (22-3, 16-1 RMAC) now hold a three-game lead over New Mexico Highlands with just two games to play before the RMAC Shootout. Metro State currently holds a seven-game lead in the East Division.
Chadron State led by three points until Jesse Wagstaff hit a 3-pointer with 1:58 left to tie the score at 78-78. Following a timeout and a defensive stop, Wagstaff hit two free throws with 1:27 left and Chris Robinson hit a jumper on the ensuing possession to put Metro State up 82-78 with under a minute remaining. Marquise Carrington hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory.
Wagstaff scored a team-high 24 points and pulled down five rebounds to lead the Roadrunners. Donte Nicholas continued his strong play of late, scoring in double figures fourth consecutive game, chipping in with 12 on the evening. Nicholas hit 3-of-5 from the outside and also had five assists. Carrington scored 10 points by hitting 8-of-10 from the line and also had a game-high six assists.
Chadron State was led by Tim McLaurin with 24 points.
The Eagles shot the lights out, hitting 54 percent from the floor, 42 percent from the outside and 21-of-24 (.875) from the free throw line. They also held a 25-20 rebounding edge on the Roadrunners. However, Metro State committed just 10 turnovers, while forcing 14, and got to the free throw line 35 times, converting 26 of those attempts.
Metro State controlled much of the first half, leading by as much as seven, but held just a 40-38 lead at the break. Chadron State hit a 3-pointer to open the second half to go up by one point, but the Roadrunners then went on an 11-2 run to take a 51-43 lead with 17:23 left on a fast break layup by Carrington.
Metro State led by 10 at 58-48 with 14:22 left after Robinson hit a 3-pointer. But the Roadrunners went cold, hitting just three field goals and scoring six points during the next eight minutes as Chadron State went on a 20-6 run over that span to take a 68-64 lead with just over eight minutes left.
Brian Minor tied the game at 68-68 with just over six minutes left by hitting two free throws. The two teams battled back-and-forth over the next four minutes before Metro State finally pulled ahead for good.
The Roadrunners travel to Regis University in Denver on Tuesday, Feb. 24 for a 7 p.m. tipoff and wrap up regular season play next weekend as they take on Colorado-Colorado Springs on the road.
