Skip To Main Content

University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Kyle Juhl
Corbey R. Dorsey
82
Winner Nebraska-Kearney UNKMBB 10-15, 5-11
75
Northeastern St. NSUM 12-13, 6-10
Winner
Nebraska-Kearney UNKMBB
10-15, 5-11
82
Final
75
Northeastern St. NSUM
12-13, 6-10
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Nebraska-Kearney UNKMBB 28 54 82
Northeastern St. NSUM 38 37 75

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Banged Up Lopers Hit 14 Threes, Rally in Tahlequah

Kearney, Neb. – Junior Morgan Soucie scored a career-high 17 points and Nebraska-Kearney sunk a season-high 14 three pointers to rally past Northeastern State, 82-75, Thursday night in Tahlequah.

With another close win, the Lopers (10-15, 5-11) keep its MIAA Tournament hopes alive while the streaky RiverHawks fall to 12-13 (6-10). NSU began the year 0-5 in the league, won its next six and have now dropped four in a row. 

UNK picked up its third road win of the year in the most unlikely of fashions as forwards AJ Jackson (Bellevue West), Weston Baker Magrath (Marshall, Minn.) and Austin Luger (Alliance) played just a combined 20 minutes due to a variety of ailments.

NSU thus jumped on the short-handed Lopers by scoring the game's first 12 points. However, UNK kept the deficit to no more than 13 points and trailed 38-28 at the break.

"Early on they were getting any shot they wanted. They run the dribble drive and even when we stayed in front of the guy he was able to get to the spot on the floor he wanted and make the shot," said Loper head coach Kevin Lofton. "It wasn't the start we wanted but we showed some grit again. We got organized a little bit better at halftime and some guys really answered the bell."

The hole was 52-40 with 14:08 to play when a triple by freshman Kanon Koster (Kearney) started a 10-0 run. Freshman Henry Penner (Aurora) followed with another triple and then Soucie (Osawatomie, Kan.) had back-to-back buckets in the paint.

"They hard hedge the pick-and-roll. When you hard hedge you usually can have the screener slip out. We just kept having (Morgan) slip out and then we left a shooter like Kyle or Henry in the corner," said Lofton.

NSU got the lead back to seven by the eight minute mark but then junior forward Kyle Juhl (Harlan, Ia.) went nuclear. He made five of his six threes in the final 6:51 to turn a seven-point hole into a six-point cushion, 73-67. Finishing with 18 points, a couple of Juhl's treys were from Tulsa.

Playing its 19th game decided by 10 points or less, UNK of course had to sweat it out. NSU star guard Caleb Smith drilled back-to-back threes to make it a two-point Loper lead, 75-73, with 2:03 left. Koster then blocked a shot about a minute later and made two free throws on the next possession to open up some breathing room. Five of six free throw shooting by the Lopers in the final 26 seconds secured the win.

"Kyle and Morgan were huge and Kanon had a big game too. You go up and down the line up ... this group has never quit on anything and I'm happy for them. This keeps our hopes alive and gives us energy going into the next one," said Lofton.  

Soucie, having to work against taller NSU front court players, made 8 of 10 shots (1 of 2 threes) to reach his point total. His previous high of 11 came against Chadron State in November 2017.

"Morgan hasn't had a ton of playing time this year but he does all the drills, goes 100 percent and has a great attitude. So I'm really over-the-moon excited for what he was able to do tonight," said Lofton.

UNK's finished 14 of 28 from behind the arc including an 8 of 10 effort in the second half. The Lopers came in having made 20% (17 of 86) of its three points shots over the last 140 minutes of game action.

Besides Soucie and Juhl, Koster had a team-high 21 points on 6 of 9 (3 of 5) shooting. Going 6 of 6 at the line, he also provided five boards and four assists. Finally, Penner (13) had his seventh double digit effort of the winter thanks to three made threes. He also pulled down a team-high eight rebounds and had three dimes.

Averaging 16.3 points per game, Smith led NSU with 24 thanks to a 6 of 10 display from behind the arc. Starters Josh Ihek (11) and Bradley George (10) scored in double figures as well with George having six assists and two steals.

UNK heads over to Central Oklahoma on the Saturday. Fort Hays State downed the Bronchos (10-15, 3-3) tonight in Edmond, 69-66.
 
 
 
 
Print Friendly Version