Week 5 Preview: UNK Visits the Blue Tigers and Mules

Men's Basketball 1/5/2021 11:32:00 AM

Week 5 Preview: UNK Visits the Blue Tigers and Mules

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team starts the 2021 calendar year with games at Lincoln and Central Missouri this weekend.

Off since a 72-66 home win vs. Northeastern State on December 20, the Lopers are in Jefferson City Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Warrensburg Saturday at 3 p.m. Catch the action via The MIAA Network and KRVN FM (93.1 FM and 106.9 FM).

UNK (2-5) has had trouble in Jeff City but played well in Warrensburg. The Lopers fell to the Blue Tigers (4-2) by a 64-61 score last February and then responded with 78-74 win two days later over the Mules (1-6). UNK lost in Warrensburg in 2018 and 2019 but those games both went into overtime. Kearney is now 6-8 all-time vs. UCM and 7-6 vs. LU.

Lincoln has just an 11-man roster with no sophomores and one freshman. Four score in double figures led by 6-8, 230 pound junior Sai Witt (16.7) and 6-4 junior wing Quinton Drayton (15.0). The Blue Tigers make 65% of its free throws, are minus 2-5 on the glass and 3-0 in Jeff City.

Central is off to a 1-6 start that includes an 0-5 road record. The Mules haven't played since a 73-64 setback at Emporia on December 19. Giving up an even 80 points a night and minus 7.4 on the glass, UCM does have four in double figures. North Dakota State transfer Cameron Hunter, a 6-3 redshirt senior guard, is at 17.3 points a night thanks to 86% free throw shooting. Next, 6-9 junior Gaven Pinkley averages 11.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.

The Lopers are 0-2 on the road in the early going with all seven games having been decided by 12 points or less. UNK is fourth in the MIAA in both scoring defense (70.0) and assists per game (13.7) while being second in stopping the 3-point shot (29.4%). The last four foes have failed to make at least 30% of its three pointers.

A trio of seniors – Jake Walker (18.6), Austin Luger (14.6) and Sam Morris (10.2) – are all averaging double figures in five games played apiece. Walker has a team-high 15 3's, Luger has a team-best 37 rebounds with Morris first in field goal percentage (57.6).

UNK returns home next week to face MIAA leaders Missouri Western State and Northwest Missouri Sate.

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Players Mentioned

#30 Austin Luger: F; 6' 8"; Junior

#2 Sam Morris: G/F; 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior

#23 Jake Walker: G; 6' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#30 Austin Luger
: 6' 8"; Junior
: F

#2 Sam Morris
: 6' 5"; Redshirt Junior
: G/F

#23 Jake Walker
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G

Players Mentioned

#30 Austin Luger

#2 Sam Morris

#23 Jake Walker

Players Mentioned

#30 Austin Luger

#2 Sam Morris

#23 Jake Walker