CHADRON – Western State’s Travis Shepherd scored 26 points, including nine of the Mountaineers’ final 10 points, as they outlasted Chadron State 69-66 Saturday night in a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game.

The Eagles, now 0-6, fought back from an 18-point deficit in the first half but were never able to take the lead as Western State (3-3, 2-0 RMAC) led the wire-to-wire.

Chadron State trailed 28-10 midway through the first half but the Eagles went on a 17-6 scoring run over for minutes and trailed the Mountaineers 45-37 at intermission.

The Eagles opened the second half strongly and pulled within 59-57 with eight minutes to play and tied it twice during the final stretch but Shepherd’s hot hand kept the Mountaineers ahead.

CSC did have a chance to tie the game at the buzzer but a desperation 3-pointer rang off the rim.

Zac Bargen led Chadron State with 24 points and added five rebounds and four assists. Grant Stone had his first career double double with 12 points and 15 rebounds and Kyle Vinich scored nine points and added five boards off the bench.

In addition to Shepherd, Western State’s Terrence Boyd scored 13 points, all in the first half.

Both teams struggled shooting. Western State finished 26 of 61 from the floor, while Chadron State sank 22 of 61. The Eagles also made 17 of 28 free throws and Western hit 10 of 21.

Alex Helmbrecht, Sports Information Director