Neb.-Kearney UNK 2-10,0-6 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Lincoln (MO) Linc 7-2,3-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Neb.-Kearney UNK

2-10,0-6 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Final

Dec. 31, 2022

Lincoln (MO) Linc

7-2,3-2 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Neb.-Kearney UNK	29	36	65
Lincoln (MO) Linc	44	34	78

Summary
Box Score

Todd Gottula

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 12/31/2022 6:36:00 PM

Rally Falls Short in Jeff City

Kearney, Neb. – The Lincoln Blue Tigers used a 17-2 first half run and grabbed 20 offensive rebounds to hold off Nebraska Kearney, 78-65, Saturday evening in Jefferson City, Mo.

The Blue Tigers, with basically a new team this season, improves to 7-2 (3-2) and evens the all-time series with the Lopers (2-10, 0-6) at nine apiece.

"They have a good team this year. They brought in three veteran Division I transfers who've given them a shot in the arm," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton on the KRVN Radio post-game show. "A reoccurring theme for us is first half struggles."

Super senior forward Darrian Nebeker (West Jordan, Utah) scored 12 of his 16 points in the first half with his first bucket making it 2-1 at the 19:30 mark. That's when the Blue Tigers went on its big run, out scoring the Lopers by 15 over the next six minutes to build up a 14-point lead. The advantage stayed between eight and 18 points until the break when LU was ahead by a 44-29 margin.

"Defensively we allowed them to get by us too much. We worked on that coming in but it's easier said than done," said Lofton. "The 1-2-2 trapping zone helped us in the second half and got them out of rhythm."

UNK switched up its defense and rotation in the second half, never letting the deficit get bigger than 20 and whittling things down to a 67-59 margin by the 4:27 mark. However, LU had an answer every time, whether it be an o-board or one of 20 made free throws.

"It all comes down to the rebounds. They have physical talented kids who overwhelmed us (on the glass). The game came down to that," said Lofton.

Veteran post Sai Witt (6-8, 230 lbs.), who returned to LU after being at a D1 school last year, had 19 points, 11 rebounds and two assists with 6-9, 230-pound Frenchman Kevin Kone providing 13 points and 17 rebounds (10 offensive). In the back court, Artese Stephenson had 17 points, drew eight fouls and had seven rebounds. He was previously at D1 Radford (Va.).

Lincoln turned those 20 o-boards into 16 second chance points and also was plus 20 in paint points. The Blue Tigers went 20 of 29 at the line with UNK sinking all 11 of their attempts. The Lopers also went 12 of 32 from downtown with seven of those makes coming in the second half.

Nebeker went 6 of 16 from the field to reach his point total with Colorado sophomore guard Sean Evans getting hot in the second half to also tally 16. He made 4 of 8 shots (3 of 6 threes) and went 5 of 5 at the line. Next, Auburn redshirt freshman guard Cam Binder knocked down three treys to tally 11 off the bench with Iowa sophomore guard Jaleque Dunson making his first UNK appearance. He went for eight points in 33 minutes of work.

"Jaleque didn't play too tentative today and I think he'll only get better once he gets used to game speed," said Lofton.

UNK heads to Central Missouri on Monday night. The Mules fell to 6-6 (2-4) after a 57-46 setback to Fort Hays State today.

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