Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Seniors Richie Thompson and Alex Bazzell had double doubles to power Lindenwood to an 84-75 win over Nebraska-Kearney Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
The Lions finish the season at 19-7 (12-6); they are ineligible for the MIAA and NCAA Tournaments as they are transitioning from the NAIA. Meanwhile, UNK saw its MIAA tourney hopes end with the loss and thus finish 7-18 (4-14).
 
Both teams were red hot out of the gates, combining for 36 points in the first seven minutes. The Lopers then used a 9-0 run to move ahead 27-18, the last points being a three by junior Thomas Cooper (Chattanooga, Tenn.) that hit every part of the rim.
 
Among the MIAA's top offensive clubs and a team loaded with seniors, the Lions roared from there, going on a 32-6 run covering the rest of the first half and the first minute of the second half.
 
The Lions made 62.5% (20 of 32) of its first half shots, including a 6 of 14 effort from behind the arc. They didn't cool off after the break, going 11 of 18 (61.1%).
 
UNK didn't go away, however, using a 34-18 run to cut the large deficit to just one point, 68-67, with 6:22 to play. The 13-minute stretch featured two threes by sophomore Tyler Shields (Kearney) and triples from seniors Jon Henderson (Salt Lake City, Utah) and Drew Sankey (Lincoln East).
 
Lindenwood countered by scoring the next five to regain the momentum, the last three coming on a triple by senior Cody Sorenson. The Lopers, who scored 25 of its points off of 13 Lion turnovers, didn't get closer than four  the rest of the night.
 
A 6-5 wing, Thompson had 17 points and 12 rebounds (eight defensive) with Bazzell, a 6-2 guard, providing 16 points, 10 assists and six boards (six defensive). Sorenson (13) and reserve Brandon Marquardt (11) also reached double digits for LWU.
 
Taking 19 more shots than the Lions but making one fewer (30 of 69), UNK was led by Henderson's 22 points, five rebounds and four assists. The lefty went 4 of 4 at the line and tallied 755 points in two years as a Loper.
 
Next, Shields had four triples to tally 14 points with sophomore wing Pierre Newton (Laveen, Ariz.) having 18 points on 8 of 15 shooting.
Finally, Sankey wrapped up a four-year UNK career by having four points off the bench.