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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Winston Cook
Corbey R. Dorsey
79
Pittsburg St. PittSt 4-13,3-8 Mid-America Intercollegiate
88
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNK 7-10,3-8 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Pittsburg St. PittSt
4-13,3-8 Mid-America Intercollegiate
79
Final
88
Neb.-Kearney UNK
7-10,3-8 Mid-America Intercollegiate
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Pittsburg St. PittSt 37 42 79
Neb.-Kearney UNK 45 43 88

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Big Offensive Night Results in Home Win

Kearney, Neb. – Guard David Simental tied his season-high of 30 points and Nebraska-Kearney shot 60% from the field to beat Pittsburg State, 88-79, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

Starting a four-game home-stand, the Lopers improve to 7-10 (3-8) while the Gorillas fall to 4-13 (3-8). UNK has now taken six of the last eight meetings with the Gorillas.

"We had some guys step up tonight. Obviously, David shot the ball well from the three-point line and Thomas (Connelly) came in and was a huge shot in the arm from the three-point line. He's definitely a guy that can help us," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton. "(Sean) Evans got going late from the three-point line and Darrian had a good game both inside and outside of the arc. "

The Lopers led for nearly 27 minutes and by as many as 12 points. They went 29 of 48 from the floor including a season-best 15 of 21 from long range. Six different players recorded at least one made triple with Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.) and freshman reserve Tom Connelly (Denver) at four. The team tally is just two shy of tying the school-record. 

Pitt led 24-17 seven minutes into the action but UNK grabbed the lead back before the break and never trailed again. In addition to hot shooting, the Lopers was plus four on the glass and basically saw just three Gorillas score.

"Defensively we were not good early in the first half. They got off a lot of shots and got off to a fast start. (Better starts) is something we're trying to be better at. We had to use some zone-action to kind of help our guys out and get them going," said Lofton. "Thankfully, we were able to have an eight-point lead at halftime and basically hung onto that in the second half.

Simental finished 8 of 13 (5 of 7 3's) from the field and 9 of 10 at the line. Drawing eight fouls, he also had four dimes in playing all 40 minutes. Earlier this month he had 30 in an OT loss at Northeastern State. This offensive effort pushes his NCAA career point total (UNK, Colorado State-Pueblo and Montana State-Billings) to 1,023. Add in a season at Central Wyoming College and the point guard is close to the 1,500 mark (1,490).

Next, Connelly tallied a season-best 12 on those four treys with fellow reserve Winston Cook (Wahoo) supplying 13 points and six boards. Finally, Nebeker (West Jordan, Utah) and Evans (Parker, Colo.) combined for 24 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.

Starters Ryan Pippins (22 points, seven boards) and Bobby Arthur-Williams Jr. (21 points, six boards) paced Pitt.

UNK hosts Missouri Southern State on Saturday. The Lions (8-7, 5-4) fell tonight at Fort Hays, 89-71.
 
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