Neb.-Kearney UNK 9-13,5-11 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Newman Newman 4-15,1-13 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Neb.-Kearney UNK

9-13,5-11 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Final

Feb. 05, 2022

Newman Newman

4-15,1-13 Mid-America Intercollegiate

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Neb.-Kearney UNK	44	45	89
Newman Newman	35	40	75

Summary
Box Score

Corbey R. Dorsey

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 2/5/2022 5:53:00 PM

Hello Newman...Lopers Score 89 to Win

Kearney, Neb. – Guard David Simental scored a season-high 33 points and Nebraska-Kearney shot 54 percent from the field to fly past Newman, 89-75, Saturday evening in Wichita.

The Lopers (9-13, 5-11) are making a push to qualify for the 10-team MIAA Tournament while the Jets (4-15, 1-3) drop a fifth-straight game. They were coming off a 63-60 setback to regionally-ranked Fort Hays State on Thursday night.

Making at least half its shots for the 11th time this winter, UNK led for nearly the entire way and by as many as 23 points. Simental (Pueblo West, Colo.), reaching 30 points for the third time as a Loper, went for 22 in the first half as the Blue & Gold jetted out to 44-35 halftime lead. NU's Israel Barnes, averaging 19 on the year, was almost equal to the task as he had 18 first half points.

"David senses the urgency that is needed right now. It's taken him a while to figure it out … we knew he could score but now I think he's got the confidence to lead the team. He understands he's got to get off to a good start," said Loper head coach Kevin Lofton on the KRVN radio post-game show. "The other guys feed off him. David is a special player and he's played like it the last few games."

Finishing plus 10 on the glass and going 11 of 26 from long range, the Lopers never let its lead get smaller than nine points over the final 20 minutes. A Simental three made it 67-46 at the 14-minute mark and while senior forward Austin Luger (Alliance) was called for his fourth foul at that time, guard Parker Badding (Carroll, Ia.) went on a 6-0 run to make it 73-50 a few minutes later.

"Our last two opponents have told us (afterwards) how much they like what we're doing on offense. How hard it is to guard," said Lofton. "That's where our strength is. Our offense has got to be sharp … ball movement, player movement and good spacing."

Simental, who came in with two 30-point games this season, finished 11 of 24 (5 of 11 3's) from the field and 6 of 8 at the line. One of three Lopers to go all 40 minutes, he also had six defensive boards, drew seven fouls and had an assist and steal. Next, senior forward Darrian Nebeker (West Jordan, Utah) had 18 points, eight boards and four dimes with Badding having 13, nine after the break, in his first career start. Freshman Sean Evans (Parker, Colo.) couldn't go today due to illness.

"We had to get a split this weekend, somehow, someway. We knew UCO (Central Oklahoma) would be a tall order but I thought our team played solid in that game," said Lofton. "We built a little momentum on the way we competed and hung in there Thursday night. I think that showed today and our kids came out and played with a lot of confidence and urgency."

Finally for the Lopers, Luger (10 points & eight boards) and New Zealand freshman Sean Murphy (11 points & nine rebounds) both got close to double doubles.

Newman, which shot a respectable 48 percent, saw Barnes go for 25 as he made eight buckets and eight freebies. He has missed seven games this season due to injury. Next, starting guard Ian Lee had 16 of his 18 points in the second half with reserve Branden Bunn at 11 points.

UNK hosts Northeastern State (11-11, 6-10) and Rogers State (13-8, 7-8) next weekend. NSU is right ahead of the Lopers in the MIAA standings thanks to a 72-71 win over Washburn today.

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