CHADRON, Neb. – Western State Colorado University men's basketball poured on the points early and kept the pressure on all game, defeating Chadron State College 96-72. Collin Smith led all scorers with a season best 25 points while Brady Subart added a season high 23 points.
 
The 24-point differential provided Western's largest margin of victory this season and is also the biggest win in a two-year stretch. Western last tallied a larger win in January of 2016, defeating Western New Mexico 93-64.
 
Western (5-10, 3-6 RMAC) was down-right deadly shooting, making 67% of their shots. After shooting 62% in the first half, it seemed likely the Mountaineers would cool after the break – but they only got hotter shooting a remarkable 72% in the second half.
 
Western led Chadron State (3-13, 1-9 RMAC) by as many as 31 points in the second half.
 
After scoring 20 at Regis on Friday, Collin Smith continued his hot-hand for Western. Smith's 25 points came on 10-12 shooting with 5-6 from three-point. While Smith was near automatic from three, the Mountaineers managed to shoot 52% on average from behind-the-arc. Brady Subart poured on an additional 23 points, shooting 70% from the floor in 35 minutes of action.
 
While Western was hot offensively, they also rattled Chadron State defensively. The Mountaineers forced 15 Eagle turnovers, but more importantly scored 27 points in the process.
 
Smith rained baskets early for the Mountaineers, scoring his first points 1:02 into the game. Over the next two-minutes, he would score 11 more to give himself 13 points in a span of 3:32 seconds.
 
Following the initial burst from Smith, Subart took over scoring 12 of his 23 points before the half.
 
Four Mountaineers scored in double-digits as Western balanced their scoring across both halves.
 
Following the victory, Western has won two of their last three games. The Mountaineers return home to face Colorado Christian on January 12, 2018 in Paul Wright Gym.