SILVER CITY, NM -- It took overtime, but Western New Mexico University got the school's first Rocky Mountain Conference win in men's basketball, 97-84, over visiting Chadron State Saturday night. It was Chadron's second-straight overtime loss in New Mexico this week, as they also fell to Highlands Thursday. Western improved to 4-4, 1-1 while the Eagles fell to 1-6, 0-2

The game was a virtual statistical draw, with Western winning the shooting battle from the field (49 to 46 percent from the field) and taking a slim 40-38 edge in rebounding. The Mustangs did shoot 40 percent from beyond the arc however to the Eagles 27 and converted 77 percent of their free throws to Chadron's 63.

The Mustangs were led by a hot-shooting Jason Jackson (Albuquerque, NM/Highland High School) (Sr., Albuquerque), who had 26 points and four rebounds. Jackson got lots of help though, as Junior Tucsonians, Trey Clarkson (Tucson, AZ/Sal Pointe High School) and Casey Crevelone (Tucson, AZ/Canyon del Oro High School) added 19 and 18 points to the tally. Sophomore Devin Stewart (Tucson, AZ/) chipped in 10, and nabbed 8 rebounds.

Chadron was led by Marcus Ligons' 14-point effort.

It looked like the game would be won in regulation by Western as Chadron's Felipe Cecilio missed two free throws with under a minute to go in the second half that would have tied the game, but after Western's failed shot attempt, Cecilio took the ball and went virtually coast to coast for a driving layup as time expired to move the game into extra innings at 74 points each.

The Mustangs dominated the overtime period however, outscoring Chadron 23-10.

Western will work on finals next week before heading to Denver Friday for a battle with Colorado School of Mines, as the Mustangs face the RMAC's East Division teams.

WESTERN N.M. 97, CHADRON STATE 84
CHADRON STATE (1-6, 0-1) Fernando Bonfim 7-9 1-1 15; Marcus Ligons 6-13 1-3 14; Kyle Cotton 5-9 0-1 11; Kody Christensen 2-9 4-4 10; Tyler Coffman 3-4 3-4 9; Jason Lucas 3-5 0-0 8; Felipe Cecilio 2-6 4-8 8; Theo Donley 2-8 1-1 5; Dameon Gant 1-2 0-0 2; Preston Petersen 1-4 0-0 2; Corey Wright 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-69 14-22 84.
WESTERN N.M. (4-4, 1-1) Jason Jackson (Albuquerque, NM/Highland High School) 8-15 7-9 26; Trey Clarkson (Tucson, AZ/Sal Pointe High School) 6-8 4-4 19; Casey Crevelone (Tucson, AZ/Canyon del Oro High School) 5-9 4-4 18; Devin Stewart (Tucson, AZ/) 3-8 4-7 10; Benny Reed (Spring, TX/Oakridge High School) 2-4 3-3 7; DJ Nicholas (Glendale, AZ/Glendale High School) 2-5 1-1 5; Justin Taylor (Mesa, AZ/) 2-4 0-0 4; JJ Galberth (El Paso, TX/Parkland High School) 2-2 0-0 4; Kris Taylor (Mesa, AZ/Dobson High School) 1-3 1-2 4; Lloyd Russell (Riverside, CA/) 0-0 0-0 0; Shannon Doctor (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena High School) 0-5 0-1 0. Totals 31-63 24-31 97.

Chadron State................. 35 39 10 - 84 
Western N.M................... 31 43 23 - 97

3-point goals--Chadron State 6-22 (Jason Lucas 2-3; Kody Christensen 2-6; Marcus Ligons 1-4; Kyle Cotton 1-4; Theo Donley 0-5), Western N.M. 11-27 (Casey Crevelone (Tucson, AZ/Canyon del Oro High School) 4-6; Jason Jackson (Albuquerque, NM/Highland High School) 3-8; Trey Clarkson (Tucson, AZ/Sal Pointe High School) 3-5; Kris Taylor (Mesa, AZ/Dobson High School) 1-2; Shannon Doctor (Sierra Vista, AZ/Buena High School) 0-5; DJ Nicholas (Glendale, AZ/Glendale High School) 0-1). Fouled out--Chadron State-None, Western N.M.-Casey Crevelone (Tucson, AZ/Canyon del Oro High School). Rebounds--Chadron State 40 (Fernando Bonfim 9), Western N.M. 38 (Devin Stewart (Tucson, AZ/) 8). Assists--Chadron State 14 (Felipe Cecilio 4), Western N.M. 15 (Devin Stewart (Tucson, AZ/) 4). Total fouls--Chadron State 25, Western N.M. 20. Technical fouls--Chadron State-None, Western N.M.-None. A-546