Jets and #11 Bronchos Visit to Conclude Semester

12/15/2022 2:19:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney men's basketball team ends the fall semester at home when the Newman Jets visit Friday night and the nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma Bronchos stop by Sunday afternoon.

Due to Winter Commencement, the NU game is at 5 p.m. with the UCO contest at 4 p.m. Fans not in attendance can watch via The MIAA Network and listen to The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM.

The Lopers (2-7, 0-4) are coming off an 84-74 road setback at top-ranked Northwest Missouri last Saturday. They also fell at current No. 27 Minnesota Duluth earlier this year, 78-72.

The 11th-ranked 'Chos (8-1, 3-1) still rank among the MIAA elite despite the loss of sophomore guard Callen Haydon to injury. He's missed the last four games and was at 13.6 points and 5.2 assists before the setback. Last year in two wins over UNK, he went for 54 points, 14 assists, five rebounds and five steals.

Veteran head coach Bob Hoffman (576 career wins) has a team at 85.00 points a night, highest in the MIAA and 22nd in D2. UCO makes 15 freebies and eight threes a night with three others besides Haydon in double digits. That trio includes sophomore guard Jaden Wells (18.9 points, 4.0 rebounds). Finally, UCO is 18-5 all-time vs. UNK

The Jets from Wichita (4-6, 0-4) are looking to end a four-game losing streak with NU scoring under 67 points in each setback. They are at 70 points on the year via 40% shooting. Sophomore guard Stevie Strong (17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists) leads the way with junior wing Latik Murphy (13.3) the other Jet in double figures. UNK leads the all-time series, 5-1.

UNK has made exactly half its shots (261 of 522) to date including 37% from behind the arc. The Lopers rank 20th nationally in field goal shooting, are 19th in threes made per game (10.1) and make 73% of its freebies. UNK would like a few more attempts per game at the line, currently at 10.

Individually, super senior forward Darrian Nebeker (West Jordan, Utah) ranks in the MIAA top 10 in scoring (18.6), assists (4.7), field goal pct. (.550) and minutes (36.0). He also is second on the team in board work (5.8), makes 74% of his freebies and has six blocks. Next, sophomore guard Sean Evans (Parker, Colo.) is second in the league in three-point pct. (.429) while tallying 14.4 points nightly. Finally, Kiwi sophomore Sean Murphy is a 6.6 rebounds per game, eighth highest in the MIAA.

The Division II moratorium – no practices or games – runs from Dec. 20-26 this year. The team will reconvene on the 27th to prepare for road games at Lincoln (Dec. 31) and UCM (Jan. 2).

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