Kearney, Neb. – In a game where there was 50 fouls called and combined 71 free throws shot. University of Colorado-Colorado Springs used two big scoring runs to defeat the University of Nebraska Kearney, 85-68, Friday night at the Health and Sports Center.
Nebraska Kearney drops to 6-10 and 4-8 in the RMAC, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs improves to 5-11 and 3-9 in the RMAC. University of Colorado-Colorado Springs has won the last three meetings and four of the last five games against Nebraska Kearney; however Nebraska Kearney leads the all-time series 14-6.
UCCS would start the game on 9-4 scoring run by getting points from Brent Jones, Alan Paul, and Rob Howe.
UNK would score the next six points to grab a one point lead with 15:33 till halftime on a jumper by sophomore forward Drew Sankey (Lincoln), who scored four of the six points during the scoring run.
Springs would answer Sankey's basket by getting back to back layups from Howe and Tanner Adams to give Springs a three point lead, 13-10, with 14:50 left in the first half.
Kearney would answer the latest Springs' scoring run by getting points from junior guard Max Froehlich (Pierce) and senior Ben Klein (Plainview) to lead 16-15 with 12:46 left till halftime.
The Mountain Lions would break 26 all tie by outscoring the Lopers 14-10, over the final 6:45 minutes of the first half to lead 40-36. In half there was 23 fouls called and combined 31 free throws attempted.
UNK would have three one point leads during the first nine minutes of the second half. UNK last lead of the game was at 11:38 on a free throw by freshman center Mike Dentlinger (Omaha) to lead 53-52.
After Dentlinger's free throw, UCCS would close out the game on 33-15 scoring run. UCCS was lead in scoring by Ben Feilmeier with 11 points during the scoring run.
The Lions were led in scoring by Jones, who scored a game high 22 points by going 7-9 from the line and pull down 10 boards, Howe would chip in 18 points; only averaging 4 points per game, by going 6-8 from the field, finally Feilmeier would contribute 11 points and seven rebounds.
The Lopers were led by freshman Tim Billingsley (Parker, Colo.) with 16 points by going 6-6 from the free throw line and dishing out three assist, Sankey and Dentlinger each scored 13 points, and Froehlich would finish the game with 11 points and seven assist. The Lopers had a season high in free throws made (28) and attempted (37).
Nebraska Kearney is home again tomorrow night at 8:30 against CSU-Pueblo.
