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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Carter Burns
Corbey R. Dorsey
59
Winner Nebraska-Kearney UNKMBB 6-11, 1-7
53
Emporia State ESU 7-9, 2-6
Winner
Nebraska-Kearney UNKMBB
6-11, 1-7
59
Final
53
Emporia State ESU
7-9, 2-6
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Nebraska-Kearney UNKMBB 17 42 59
Emporia State ESU 23 30 53

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Big Run Late Equals First Win in Emporia in 32 Years

Kearney, Neb. – Junior forward Kyle Juhl scored a career-high 23 points and Nebraska-Kearney closed on a 24-7 run to edge Emporia State, 59-53, Sunday evening in Kansas.

The Lopers (6-11, 1-7) win its first MIAA game and first road contest of the 2018-19 season. This also marks UNK's first win at White Auditorium since the 1986-87 campaign (32 years). Back then the Lopers and Hornets (7-9, 2-6) were Central States Intercollegiate Conference (CSIC) and NAIA members.

It was a slow and defensive struggle throughout with the teams combining for just 40 first half points. Both teams shot less than 28% in the opening half with E-State up 23-17.

Emporia held the lead for 32 minutes and was up 30-19, 44-33 and 46-35 in the second half. Down 11 with 7:11 left, UNK's big run started with a bucket by senior forward Carter Burns (Ankeny, Ia.) and then Juhl (Harlan, Ia.) took over. He hit three of his five made threes in a three-minute span to turn a seven-point deficit into a 48-46 lead with 2:16 left.

UNK wouldn't trial again as they went 10 of 12 at the line to keep the Hornets at bay. The Lopers finished 14 of 16 at the charity stripe, one of its best efforts of the year.

"I'm proud and happy for our guys. They've been pretty resilient all year but we weren't happy with the effort at Washburn (Wednesday) night and the film showed it. The kids stepped up and owned it," said Loper head coach Kevin Lofton. "This was far from pretty, kind of like the first time we played them."

Juhl had 21 of UNK's 42 second half points as he finished 7 of 15 (5 of 12 threes) from the field and 4 of 4 at the line. He also had six defensive rebounds and no turnovers in 37 minutes.

"Kyle stepped up at the right time and got hot at the right time," said Lofton. "The funny thing is I had to beg him to start shooting. He had hit a couple in the first half and then he went cold. At a certain point in the second half he caught the ball and was open in front of our bench and I said 'shoot the ball.'  Luckily it went in and from then on he was pretty engaged."

Coming off the bench for the first time this winter, Kearney freshman Kanon Koster had 14 points, seven rebounds and two assists. Working around foul trouble he made 5 of 6 free throws down the stretch. Next, Bellevue junior forward AJ Jackson had six points and a career-best 13 rebounds (four offensive) with Burns providing six more caroms, four points, two assists and two blocks in just 15 minutes.

Both squads shot 33% from the field with UNK having a huge 47-28 advantage on the glass. That led to 15 second chance points wile E-State managed 16 points off of 17 Kearney turnovers.

"Kanon came in and got some big rebounds and was good at the line late, AJ was active and got his hands one some balls and Carter gave us some solid minutes. He communicates well on both ends of the court and that helps our guys out," said Lofton. 

The Hornets were led by Bellevue West graduate and Bowling Green State transfer Malik Hluchoweckyj. One of two ESU players in double digits, he had 16 points and four rebounds.

UNK hosts No. 2 Northwest Missouri State (17-0, 7-0) Thursday night. The Lopers stunned the Bearcats, 66-59, last January at the Health & Sports Center.
 
 
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