Box Score Kearney, Neb. –The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball had all five starters score in double figures to upset 13th-ranked Colorado School of Mines, 75-72, Sunday afternoon at the Health & Sports Center.
The Lopers (2-3) cap a string of five games in eight days while Mines (1-1), coming off a 29-3 campaign, falls in Kearney for the second straight year.
Facing a much bigger team, UNK had to live on the perimeter all day. That worked well early as the Lopers made seven of its first 12 three pointers to lead 40-29. However, Mines closed the half on an 8-0 run and the Lopers made only three triples the rest of the way.
Going against an aggressive 2-3 zone in the second half, UNK used a 14-6 run to open up a seven point cushion, 70-63, with 3:23 to play. This key stretch featured six straight points by senior reserve post
Drew Sankey (Lincoln East) and two buckets by senior guard
Jon Henderson (Salt Lake City, Utah).
Mines didn't go away quietly, forcing back-to-back turnovers to make it a 70-67 at the 1:54 mark.
UNK then missed the front end of two one and one free throws to give the 'Diggers a chance to tie. But, Mines missed a three with 50 seconds left.
Outscoring Kearney 50-16 in the paint, the 'Diggers missed all seven threes it attempted.
In the final minute, UNK went 5 of 6 at the line with Henderson a perfect 4 of 4. The lefty finished with a team-high 17 points, 13 coming after the break.
Next, Arizona sophomore
Pierre Newton added 15, Arizona freshman
Sami Bzai had 11, Kearney sophomore
Tyler Shields scored 10 and Omaha junior
Mike Dentlinger recorded his second double double (14 points and 10 rebounds) of the young season.
Off the bench, Sankey had eight points and six rebounds (four offensive) in 17 minutes. Despite being out sized, the Lopers used 15 o-boards to score 16 second chance points.
Mines had four starters reach double digits, including post Trevor Wages and guards Brian Muller (17 each).
UNK is now off until Wednesday, December 5th, when MIAA-member Lincoln U. visits.
