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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Austin Luger
Corbey R. Dorsey
66
Winner Rogers St. RS 2-4,2-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
60
Neb.-Kearney UNK 1-5,1-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Rogers St. RS
2-4,2-4 Mid-America Intercollegiate
66
Final
60
Neb.-Kearney UNK
1-5,1-5 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Rogers St. RS 28 38 66
Neb.-Kearney UNK 31 29 60

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Hillcats Nip the Lopers

Kearney, Neb. – Rogers State shot an even 50 percent from the field and had four starters score in double figures to edge Nebraska-Kearney, 66-60, Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

An NCAA Tournament team a year ago, the Hillcats from Claremore, Okla., improve to 2-4 while the Lopers fall to 1-5. All four of RSU's losses have come against
teams that have spent time in the Top 25 this winter. Meanwhile UNK's last three losses have been by a combined 16 points.

"We're right there. It's a broken record when you look at the last three games. We're playing some talented teams especially when you look at Central Oklahoma and the size Rogers has," UNK head coach Kevin Lofton said. "We're just a play or two away. Some of that is confidence … finding a way to win one of these close ones so the guys that were in development roles last year can start believing in themselves."

The game featured eight ties and seven lead changes with neither squad holding a double digit lead. UNK led for 12 minutes in the first half with the 'Cats leading the final 14. An 11-3 spurt made it 50-43 at the 8:46 mark and featured scoring by five different RSU players.

UNK, which out rebounded a much bigger Rogers team, hung around and had a three from the right wing with 31 seconds left that would've made it just a one-point deficit. However, the ball hit iron and RSU sunk the subsequent free throws to push its lead to 64-58.

"We're probably three or four plays away in the last five minutes from having a couple more wins. We just have to finish," Lofton said. "Sooner or later we'll turn the corner and once we do the confidence will blossom from there."

Senior wing Brewster Peacock had 10 of his team-high 14 points in the second half with guards Darraja Parnell and Devin Pullum each scoring 10 and combining for 10 assists. Finally, sophomore guard Jett Sternberger had 13 points and two of RSU's four triples. The 'Cats finished 24 of 48 from the field and 14 of 15 at the line.

UNK was once again led by Alliance senior Austin Luger who had 17 points and four rebounds. He hit six shots from the field and played a team-high 39:41. Next, Utah senior guard Jake Walker had 13 points and made all three of the Lopers triples with Bellevue southpaw Cedric Johnson supplying nine points, four steals and three boards. As a team Kearney went 13 of 15 at the line and was 3 of 18 from behind the arc.

"Conditioning has been big for us. Night in and night out we try and be the best conditioned team on the floor," Lofton said. "Right now our rotation is a little shorter than I would like. I thought Cedric came in and gave some quality minutes and made some plays down the stretch."

The Lopers hosts Northeastern State Sunday at 3 p.m. The RiverHawks fell to 1-4 as they lost at Fort Hays State tonight, 81-76.
 
 
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