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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Morgan Soucie
Paul Pack
78
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB 15-9,9-6 MIAA
74
Central Mo. UCM 9-15,4-11 MIAA
Winner
Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB
15-9,9-6 MIAA
78
Final
74
Central Mo. UCM
9-15,4-11 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB 36 42 78
Central Mo. UCM 37 37 74

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Short-Handed UNK Grinds Out a Win in Warrensburg

Kearney, Neb. – Junior guard Jake Walker tallied 25 points, tying a season-high, and senior forward Morgan Soucie scored 24 to help Nebraska-Kearney beat Central Missouri, 78-74, Saturday evening in Warrensburg.  

The Lopers (15-9, 9-6) won its fourth road game of the year despite the loss of Bellevue senior forward AJ Jackson (14.3 points & 4.2 rebounds per game) who was injured in Thursday's loss at Lincoln. He had scored 20 points in three of the last four games.

"I'm extremely proud of them. We were obviously short-handed without AJ … he's kind of our emotional leader and to not have him out there was tough," UNK head coach Kevin Lofton said. "We needed to find a way to get it done and we did."

In a back and forth game that featured 11 ties and 12 lead changes, UNK erased a six-point second half deficit thanks to a 12-4 run. Walker (Centerville, Utah) hit two threes in this stretch with a layup by Soucie (Osawatomie, Kan.) making it 63-61 with 5:26 remaining.

The Lopers didn't trail again but the Mules, who went 10 of 19 from behind arc, hung around and forced UNK to make some free throws. Texas senior lefty Chase Winchester did just that, going 4 of 4 at the line in the final 23 seconds. He also made a layup at the 1:59 mark to push the Kearney lead to three at 72-69.

"We had to be gritty, play hard, play smart and play together. No one guy was going to do it … everyone had to find a way to pitch in," Lofton said.  "We had one true big on the floor and they didn't beat us on the boards. We played winning basketball for the most part."

Having seven fewer turnovers than the Mules (9-15, 4-11), UNK went 9 of 11 at the line in the second half and won despite UCM shooting 54% (26 of 48) from the field.

Walker went 6 of 10 from three-point land and also made five of six free throws. His fifth 20-point game of the year, he had 25 in last Saturday's win over Newman. Next Soucie made 9 of 16 shots and fell a rebound shy of a double double with Winchester going all 40 minutes and providing 11 points, two boards, one assist and no turnovers.
 
UCM had three starters and reserve in double figures including Omaha redshirt freshman Shae Wyatt (10). He also is a standout wide receiver in on the Mule football team.

The Lopers host Rogers State and Northeastern State next weekend.
 
 
 
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