Box Score Kearney, Neb. – The Central Oklahoma Bronchos shot 56 percent field and led from start to finish in a 92-84 win over Nebraska-Kearney Thursday night in Edmond, Okla.
The Lopers (17-8, 10-6) and UCO (15-9, 10-6) are now tied for third place in the MIAA. Fort Hays State could've made it a three-way tie but was upset at Northeastern State, 66-64, tonight. Also, second-place Central Missouri (17-7, 11-5) was upset at home by Lincoln, 70-63 (OT).
The 'Chos, now 10-3 all-time vs. the Lopers, held several 17 point leads throughout the night and never let UNK get close thanks to a balanced offensive attack. UCO saw four starters and a reserve score in double figures with three others between four and nine points.
The 92 points is the most by a Kearney opponent this season with the 56.3 percent (36 of 64) field goal percentage the second highest by a Loper foe.
"The first half pretty much summed it up. We didn't get much done, especially in the first 10 minutes. You give a team at home a lead like that and it's going to be hard to dig yourself out of a hole," said Loper head coach
Kevin Lofton. "I think we got it to eight a couple of times in the second half but I don't think we ever really threatened them."
To avenge last Thursday's 80-74 loss in the Health & Sports Center, the 'Chos made 65 percent (24 of 37) first half shots to lead 52-41 at the break. Only two UNK threes in the final 26 seconds made it an 11-point deficit.
UCO did lead by only nine, 65-56, with 12:15 to play but went on a 7-0 run that was capped with a layup from senior reserve forward Corey Alpough. After scoring a career-high 20 points last Thursday, he went for 18 tonight.
"We came out soft and flat and paid the price for it," said Lofton. "Not much was going right for us. Bottom line, we didn't guard anybody and they put up 92 points."
The Lopers tallied 21 of its points off of 14 offensive rebounds but committed 17 turnovers and was just 3 of 4 at the line. UNK came in averaging 20 made freebies per game. Finally, the team attempted 30 three pointers, making 11.
UNK did get another double double from Iowa junior forward
Trey Lansman (22 points & 11 rebounds) with York junior guard
Ty Danielson tallying 21 on 5 of 9 three point shooting. The five treys tie a career-high.
Next, Minnesota sophomore guard
Isaiah McKay had 15 of his 21 points in the first half. Coming in shooting 40% from behind the arc, he went 4 of 7 from long range tonight.
Besides Alpough's heroics, UCO senior guard Josh Holliday came out of a shooting slump to score a team-high 21 (7 of 13 field goals) with former 'Husker Jake Hammond supplying 14 points, six boards and five blocks.
UNK and NSU (4-20, 3-13) square off Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
