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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Matt Brien
Corbey R. Dorsey
59
Neb.-Kearney UNK 8-13,8-13 Mid-America Intercollegiate
95
Winner Northwest Mo. St. NMSU 20-1,20-1 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Neb.-Kearney UNK
8-13,8-13 Mid-America Intercollegiate
59
Final
95
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU
20-1,20-1 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Neb.-Kearney UNK 20 39 59
Northwest Mo. St. NMSU 48 47 95

Next Game:

at Missouri Western St.

2/27/2021 | 3:30 p.m.

River 93.1 KRVN FM & 106.9 FM

Next Game

Full Schedule
Feb. 27 (Sat) / 3:30 p.m.
at Missouri Western St.
History

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Northwest Shows Whey They Are Number One

Kearney, Neb. – The top-ranked and defending national champion Northwest Missouri State Bearcats hit 10 of its first 12 shots and never looked back en route to a 95-59 win over Nebraska-Kearney Thursday night in Maryville.

Northwest (20-1) is now 151-7 since the start of the 2016-17 season. The Bearcats won NCAA Division II national titles in 2017 and 2019 and were among the 2020 favorites before the national tourney was canceled last March due to the pandemic. Northwest Mo 2021

"They are the number one team in the nation for a reason. They are gearing up for the postseason and trying to make up for a team that probably should've won it last year. They want to make sure they get it done this year," UNK head coach Kevin Lofton said on the KRVN radio post-game show.

Securing an eighth straight MIAA regular season title, the 'Cats zoomed out to a 23-6 lead seven minutes in. The ended the night shooting a ridiculous 68 percent (40 of 59) from the field which included 6 of 11 efforts from the three-point line in each half. Northwest also was plus 10 on the glass and took advantage of 18 Loper turnovers.

Junior guard Diego Bernard, who didn't play in the 'Cats 73-63 win over UNK in January, led the way. He had a team-high 21 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two steals and a block in just 27 minutes.

"Diego makes a big difference for them. They didn't have him at our place and Myles (Arnold) was able to have a lot of success (23 points). They didn't have that lock down defender … that athletic, strong tough bulldog guy to put on him. And that had that tonight," Lofton said. "Diego also shot it really well (9 of 13)."

Utah junior forward Darrian Nebeker continued his fine play, having 12 points on 4 of 4 field goal and 4 of 5 free throw shooting. He also had four rebounds with New Zealand junior Matt Brien having all of his 11 points after the break. Nebeker has now been in double figures in six straight games, tied for the longest streak by a Loper this season with Brien reaching 10 points for a third straight contest. 

"We had some bright spots. Darrian put together another really good game. He was the only offense we could find in the first half," Lofton said. "It was nice to see Matt put together some nice stretches there in the second half. But scoring is a real struggle for us right now. Not having Jake (Walker) really hurts."

Nine other 'Cats scored besides Bernard including All-American candidates Ryan Hawkins and Trevor Hudgins who had 14 apiece. UNK got scoring from a total of 10 different players with Iowa redshirt sophomore Parker Badding and Kansas freshman T.J. Fritz sinking threes and Lincoln senior Sam Morris making two shots.

UNK heads to Missouri Western State on Saturday evening. The Griffons (12-9) were off tonight after beating Fort Hays State Tuesday in Kansas. 

 
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Players Mentioned

Parker Badding

#12 Parker Badding

G
6' 2"
Sophomore
Sam Morris

#2 Sam Morris

G/F
6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
Matt Brien

#1 Matt Brien

G
6' 4"
Freshman
T.J. Fritz

#15 T.J. Fritz

G
6' 3"
Freshman
Darrian Nebeker

#5 Darrian Nebeker

F
6' 6"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Parker Badding

#12 Parker Badding

6' 2"
Sophomore
G
Sam Morris

#2 Sam Morris

6' 5"
Redshirt Junior
G/F
Matt Brien

#1 Matt Brien

6' 4"
Freshman
G
T.J. Fritz

#15 T.J. Fritz

6' 3"
Freshman
G
Darrian Nebeker

#5 Darrian Nebeker

6' 6"
Junior
F