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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Corbey R. Dorsey
76
Nebraska-Kearney UNKMBB 5-7
78
Winner Southwest Baptist SBU 8-4
Nebraska-Kearney UNKMBB
5-7
76
Final
78
Southwest Baptist SBU
8-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Nebraska-Kearney UNKMBB 45 31 76
Southwest Baptist SBU 39 39 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Another Heartbreaker in Bolivar

Kearney, Neb. – Five-nine sophomore guard Chris Rossow recorded a steal and then went down court and hit a 10-foot floater in the lane with six seconds left to help Southwest Baptist edge Nebraska-Kearney, 78-76, Thursday night in Bolivar.

SBU (8-4, 2-1) improves to 8-2 at home and keeps an amazing streak alive against the Lopers in Bolivar. The Bearcats are 6-0 all-time vs. UNK (5-7, 0-3) in games held at the Meyer Sports Center; those six wins have come by a combined 25 points. On the season, Kearney's last four setbacks have come by a combined 13 points.

"It's just another close one … you look at all of our conference losses. They are all one possession games and we've just got to find a way to breakthrough," said Loper head coach Kevin Lofton. "Taking better care of the ball will help and going 6 of 14 at the line isn't very good."

UNK led by as many as 14 in the first half but SBU slapped on some full court pressure on in the second half and not only cut the deficit but moved ahead by six. Overall, the score was tied 12 times and there were 10 lead chances with the 'Cats moving ahead 76-72 with 3:33 left after getting five straight from starter Godfrey Rolle.

Two free throws from Bellevue forward AJ Jackson (Bellevue West) and a put back bucket by sophomore post Weston Baker Magrath (Marshall, Minn.) tied things up with 38 seconds remaining. While SBU missed a shot soon after, that's when Rossow recorded his winning play. A deep three from the left wing by junior forward Kyle Juhl (Harlan, Ia.) was off the mark as the buzzer sounded.

Rossow finished with a game-high 23 points on 8 of 18 shooting (2 of 5 threes). He also had four steals, four boards and three assists.

"We turned it over a bit too much in the second half. They went to their press and when we weren't turning it over, we couldn't find any rhythm once we got it across half court," said Lofton. "But I'll give it to our guys; we still gave ourselves chances. They seemed to make every play when they needed to. Banked a three in and had a couple of other fortunate rolls but those things happen when you're playing at home."

Both teams shot over 50 percent from the field in the first half with the Lopers ahead in the shootout, 45-39. The 'Cats, going 20 of 29 at the line compared to 6 of 14 for the Lopers, led 69-63 at the 6:53 mark before UNK made another move.

Baker Magrath tallied a career-high 17 on 7 of 11 field goal shooting. Pulling down eight rebounds (four offensive), he also had two blocks in a season-best 36 minutes. Next, freshman Kanon Koster (Kearney H.S.) had 17 on 7 of 12 (2 of 4 threes) shooting while also supplying five boards, two assists and two steals. Finally, Jackson and Juhl combined for 24 points, 11 rebounds and six steals.

Besides Rossow's heroics, SBU saw three other starters reach double digits as well.

"This is the kind of game you stay up all night thinking about. One play here, one play there. One free throw here, one free throw there. Two possessions before the end we had a chance at a point blank put back and it went halfway down and spun back out. Those are the plays you think about," said Lofton.

UNK heads to Central Missouri on Saturday. The Mules (8-4, 1-2) handed Fort Hays State a 63-54 setback tonight.
 
 
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