CALDWELL, ID – LC State Men’s Basketball improved to 6-2 on the season with an 80-61 victory over Northern New Mexico to wrap up the Title One Tipoff. The Warriors drained 12 3-pointers and had 20 assists on 29 made baskets in an impressive offensive showing.
“Good win to finish up non-conference play,” coach Austin Johnson said. “NNMC put us into some tough matchups, but I felt like we were really able to defend the 3-point shot going in which was the main emphasis. Josh (Salguero) had a great game to cap a really impressive weekend both offensively and defensively. It was good to see Jamare’ (Childs), Dylan (Skaife) and Dallon (Morgan) hit some 3s off our great ball movement. Lots to build on moving forward and lots to clean up but I’m excited to see this group keep improving.”
The victory improves the LC State record to 6-2 overall with Cascade Conference play next on the schedule.
HOW IT HAPPENED
John Lustig and Dylan Skaife opened the contest with five straight points for an early edge and Jamare’ Childs added a triple a minute later for an 8-2 Warrior lead at 17:21. NNMC put together a short run to cut the difference to two before Lustig sparked a scoring run for LC State. Salguero, Brandon Suber and Dallon Morgan added to the 9-0 stretch to make it 17-6. Peyton Nordland, Morgan and Lustig helped the Warriors maintain their lead with a 23-14 score midway through the half.
Northern New Mexico cut into the LC State cushion late in the first half as a seven-point run had the score at 29-25 with 3:27 to play. Salguero struck for five straight points to cut into the NNMC run and push the advantage back to 34-25 with 2:34 on the clock. Lustig matched an Eagle basket in the final minute to send the Warriors into the locker room with a 36-27 lead.
LC State stepped on the gas to start the second half. Nordland got the frame started with a 3-pointer and another triple by Childs was followed by free throws from Lustig and a 3 by Skaife for a 47-31 advantage by 17:52. Salguero sparked a seven-point run that was capped by Suber for a 54-32 lead at 15:35. LC State kept up the offensive pressure with tallies from Skaife, Grayson Hunt, Suber and Morgan and the Warriors led 65-43 with 10 minutes to play.
Morgan’s triple was part of a seven-point run all by the junior. Childs hit a pair of 3s in the final minutes, and Drew Mata added his own triple to close out the contest.
STAT RECAP
Morgan led LC State with 13 points and eight rebounds with five Warriors in double figures. Childs and Salguero each scored 12 points, with Childs doing so on a 4-for-4 night from 3-point range.
Lustig and Suber each scored 11 points, Skaife dished out four assists and Suber also grabbed eight boards.
The Warriors shot 50.9% from the field as a team and 50% from 3-point range.
UP NEXT
LC State opens CCC play on Dec. 5 at Eastern Oregon before returning to Caldwell to face No. 16 College of Idaho on Dec. 6.
Stay up to date with all things Warrior Athletics at lcwarriors.com and on social media @LCWarriors.
