Home Stand Continues

Men's Basketball 12/16/2021 8:00:00 PM

Home Stand Continues

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team continues a three-game home stand this weekend when Newman and Central Oklahoma come to town.

These are the final games of the fall semester. This year the mandatory Division II winter moratorium runs from Dec. 21-27 (no practice or games). UNK returns to the courts on Dec. 28 in preparation for a Jan. 1/3 road trip at Rogers State and Northeastern State.

Due to winter graduation taking place in the Health & Sports Center Friday morning, the games are a Friday night/Sunday afternoon format. UNK (4-5, 3-0) will face the Jets (3-6, 0-4) Friday at 7:30 p.m. and the Bronchos (7-2, 3-1) on Sunday at 1 p.m. Fans not in attendance can watch via The MIAA Network, listen to The River 93.1/106.9 FM or following along with live stats.

UNK currently leads the MIAA and ranks 23rd nationally in field goal percentage at 49.9. The Lopers have had four games making over half its shots including efforts of 59.5 percent (vs. Sterling) and 58.0 percent (vs. Chadron State). Those are the team's lone home games to date.

Forwards Winston Cook (61.8) and Darrian Nebeker (59.8) have been the sharpest of shooters with forward Austin Luger (57.9) and guard Sean Evans (50.0) close behind. The Lopers are sinking almost 60% of hits two-point shots as a team.

Also in the MIAA, UNK is third in assists per game (14.8) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.41). Nebeker (40) and point guards David Simental (29) are one-two in assists with Kearney posting a plus 0.9 turnover margin. Finally, Simental is second in the league and fourth nationally in free throw percentage (95.8/23 of 24). Newman freshman guard Stevie Strong leads the way, sinking all 25 of his attempts.

The Jets are 3-2 in Wichita, 0-3 on the road and 0-1 at a neutral site. NU shoots 41% from the floor to be at 68 points per game. Their roster features 11 transfers and players from five different U.S. states and five different countries.

UNK has won two of the last three meetings with each one decided by five points or less. Junior newcomer Israel Barnes, a 6-4 guard, is at 19.5 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He has missed five games including last Saturday's home setback to Washburn. Strong (13.2) is the other Jet in double figures. The 6-1 guard has sunk a team-best 22 3's and averages one steal per game. Finally, NU is 1-5 in games decided by 13 points or less.

UCO is one of the top teams in the MIAA this winter and has always had UNK's number, leading the all-time series 16-5. The 'Chos have won three in a row and five of the last six over the Lopers.

Veteran head coach Bob Hoffman has a team that's 6-0 at home and 3-1 on the road. They average 85 points per game thanks to eight made 3's and 49.6 field goal shooting. Six-six junior wing Camryn Givens and former Washington State Cougar Isaiah Wade both average 17.9 points a night with two others between 12.4-13.4. UCO is coming off high-scoring wins over both Washburn, 97-87 (OT), and Emporia State, 91-67.

After Sunday, UNK's next home game will be on Thursday, Jan. 6, vs. Lincoln.

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Players Mentioned

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

#14 Winston Cook: F; 6' 5"; Freshman

#5 Darrian Nebeker: F; 6' 6"; Senior

#10 David Simental: G; 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior

#23 Sean Evans: G; 6' 3"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#14 Winston Cook
: 6' 5"; Freshman
: F

#5 Darrian Nebeker
: 6' 6"; Senior
: F

#10 David Simental
: 6' 2"; Redshirt Junior
: G

#23 Sean Evans
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: G