Skyhawks Make Lead Hold Up in MBB Win

Chadron State falls to Fort Lewis in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup

Mar. 1, 2026 at 8:23am

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The Chadron State Eagles and Fort Lewis Skyhawks battled in a high-scoring Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference basketball game, with the Skyhawks building an early lead behind strong 3-point shooting and holding on for an 80-65 victory.

Why it matters

This game was an important conference matchup between two teams looking to position themselves in the RMAC standings. Fort Lewis was able to bounce back from a recent losing streak, while Chadron State was unable to overcome a large halftime deficit despite a strong second-half effort.

The details

Both teams made 11 three-pointers in the game, but Fort Lewis sank six treys in the first 10 minutes to build a 25-11 lead that they would not relinquish. The Skyhawks led 42-27 at halftime and maintained at least a 10-point advantage throughout the second half despite Chadron State's efforts to rally. Fort Lewis was led by guard Stewart Erhart's 22 points, while Chadron State was paced by 13 points each from Isaiah Randolph and Luka Djurovic.

  • The game was played on Thursday night.

The players

Isaiah Randolph

A senior player for the Chadron State Eagles who scored 13 points and blocked 3 shots in the game.

Luka Djurovic

A freshman player for the Chadron State Eagles who scored 13 points, made 5 of 6 field goals including 3 three-pointers, and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Stewart Erhart

A 6-foot-2 guard for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks who led his team with 22 points, including 3 three-pointers in the first half that helped build the Skyhawks' early lead.

Chuol Deng

An inside player for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks who scored 13 points in the game.

Cassius Carmichael

An inside player for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks who scored 12 points in the game.

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What they’re saying

“Both Chadron State and Fort Lewis finished their Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference basketball game on Thursday night with 11 three-pointers, but the Skyhawks sank six treys to CSC's one in the first 10 minutes to give the home team a big lead that they never yielded en route to an 80-65 victory.”

— Paxton Ritchey, CSC Sports Information

The takeaway

This game highlighted the importance of strong 3-point shooting, as Fort Lewis was able to build an early lead that Chadron State could not overcome despite a valiant second-half effort. The win solidifies Fort Lewis's status as one of the top teams in the RMAC, while Chadron State will look to rebound in their next conference matchup against Adams State.