Box Score Kearney, Neb. – Senior forward Jarred Bairstow scored a career-high 21 points and Central Oklahoma came out strong to hold off Nebraska-Kearney, 71-61, Thursday night at the Buckle Court at the Health & Sports Center.
 
UCO (8-8, 4-6) pushes its win streak to three while the Lopers (8-7, 5-5) lose a second straight game.
 
Despite whittling down a 22-point deficit to six with 1:14 to go, little went right for Kearney. The Lopers had a season-high 19 turnovers, leading to 23 Broncho points, and season-lows in both points and field goal percentage (36.5%).
 
"They were a focused team and came in here with some confidence," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton. "The aggressor wins nine out of 10 times and they were the aggressor in the first half. They just didn't hit us one time in the mouth, they hit us multiple times and we didn't respond very well."
 
Shooting below 30% for around 25 minutes, the Lopers finally warmed up and a layup from Norfolk senior Ethan Brozek made it 66-59 with 1:34 seconds remaining. UCO then went 1 of 2 at the line with Ravenna senior Connor Beranek knocking down two freebies.
 
However, UCO hit its next four at the line with the Lopers missing a three, pushing the deficit back into double figures. After averaging 97 points over a four-game stretch, UNK has combined for 124 in its last two contests.
 
"They got us in a big enough hole that, even though we came out and played better in the second half, they were able to hold us off," said Lofton. "Bottom line, when you're at home and trying to go on a surge, you got to respond when someone punches you in the mouth and we just didn't do that."
 
A 6-7 Australian, Baristow recorded his career-high point total for a third straight game. He had 17 vs. Emporia State and 19 vs. Washburn last weekend at home.
 
Averaging six points on the season, Bairstow made his first four shots to help the 'Chos grab a 12-2 lead give minutes in. He finished 9 of 15 from the field (2 of 4 threes), 1 of 3 at the line and also grabbed a team-high nine rebounds (all defensive).
 
Slowing down its offense greatly in the second half, UCO also saw starting guards Seth Heckart (13) and Cornell Neal (10) reach double digits.
 
Iowa sophomore forward Trey Lansman went 4 of 6 from behind the arc to lead UNK with 19 points. Brozek had a big second half to record a double double (11 points & 10 rebounds) with Iowa freshman forward Carter Burns supplying 11 points off the bench.
 
The Lopers host Northeastern State Saturday. The RiverHawks fell at Fort Hays State tonight, 84-74.