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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Austin Luger
Wayne State Athletics
64
Neb.-Kearney UNK 3-2,0-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
67
Winner Wayne St. (NE) WSC 4-3,1-0 NSIC
Neb.-Kearney UNK
3-2,0-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate
64
Final
67
Wayne St. (NE) WSC
4-3,1-0 NSIC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 40 24 64
Wayne St. (NE) WSC 38 29 67

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Cat Nipped, 67-64

Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt freshman guard Alec Millender hit a step back three with 12 seconds left to help Wayne State edge Nebraska-Kearney, 67-64, Monday night at Rice Auditorium.  

The Wildcats, a 2021 NCAA Tournament team who were picked to finish second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf. (NSIC) this year, improve to 4-3 while the Lopers fall to 3-2. Wayne still trails in the all-time series, 89-78, but have won five of the last six matchups held in Rice.

In a game with 12 lead changes, nine ties and the biggest lead being eight points, UNK moved ahead 64-62 with 1:29 remaining after a jumper by senior forward Darrian Nebeker (West Jordan, Utah). WSC responded 20 seconds later as redshirt junior guard Nate Mohr sunk a jumper from the left elbow.

Nebeker drove into the lane with 40 seconds left but redshirt junior forward Jordan Janssen managed to poke the ball loose to help the 'Cats regain possession. After a timeout, the shot clock was winding down with Milender just to the left of the top of the key. He passed on a screen to the right and instead stepped back for the game winner. He finished 4 of 4 from behind the arc to score all 12 of his points; he came in 3 of 13 from the three-point line on the season.

"They obviously hit a key three there at the end. The guy that took it had been struggling from the three-point line but he hit a big one," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton. "If he misses that and we rebound it, we're going the other way and in great shape."

UNK called timeout to try and setup the tying shot. However, WSC defended the perimeter well and a desperation shot from the deep left wing came after the buzzer had sounded.  

"Basically, the game was decided in the second half on the offensive glass. They just killed us. They went to work on the offensive glass and got a ton of points off rebounds," said Lofton. "I thought our guys guarded really well, got them to miss but didn't finish the possession and that's why they got a W."

The 'Cats had 15 second chance points on 15 o-boards. All 15 of those points and 12 of those boards came after the break with a couple of those second chances leading to threes from the corner. UNK out shot WSC by a slight margin, 46-39 percent, but the 'Cats got off 12 more shots. Finally, Wayne was plus 14 in bench points.

"This is a team that qualified for the NCAA's last year. They are off to a bit of a slow start but are projected to do the same (being in the NCAA tourney picture) again this season. We have a good idea where we're really at as far as progress …. on the road, tough environment, good team and we gave ourselves a chance to win."

Alliance senior forward Austin Luger had a game-high 19 points thanks to 7 of 9 (3 of 3 threes) field goal shooting. Drawing two fouls, he also had a team-high eight rebounds. Next, Nebeker had 16 points, five boards, three assists, three blocks and drew four fouls with Colorado freshman Sean Evans remaining hot to the tune of 15 points on three triples.

Besides Millender's heroics, Janssen recorded a double double (12 rebounds & 11 points) for Wayne with fellow starting forward Cody McCullough a rebound shy (10 points & nine). Finally, reserve guards Zach LaFave had nine first half points.

UNK travels to Emporia State (5-1) Thursday night to begin MIAA play.
 
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