Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB 0-1

Southern Nazarene SNU 1-0

Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB

0-1

Final

Nov. 10, 2023

Southern Nazarene SNU

1-0

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	F
Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB	35	46	81
Southern Nazarene SNU	34	49	83

Summary
Box Score

Todd Gottula

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | 11/10/2023 10:39:00 PM

#23 Storm Need Last Second Shot to Win

Kearney, Neb. – Senior transfer Benno Zecic hit a turnaround free throw line jumper with 18 seconds left, and sophomore transfer Cam Slaymaker added 26 points, to lift No. 23 Southern Nazarene over Nebraska Kearney, 83-81, Friday night in Bethany, Okla.

This was the opening night for both teams. UNK hosts Chadron State (Nov. 18) to begin a three-game homestand.

Leading for nearly 34 minutes and by as many as nine points, the Lopers had a chance to win in it but a left wing three from junior newcomer Taden King (Rexburg, Idaho) didn't fall with five seconds to go. Overall, there were five lead changes, four ties with both teams shooting well (50% for UNK; 49% for SNU) on opening night.

UNK got out to a 13-4 lead and was up 32-25 before the Storm closed the half on a 10-2 run. Despite a plethora of newcomers, the teams combined for just four turnovers over the first 20 minutes.

A layup by super senior forward Winston Cook (Wahoo) made it 66-57 Lopers with 10:58 but SNU managed to regain the lead five minutes later. The deficit grew to three at 75-72 but a bucket by junior forward Sean Murphy (New Zealand) gave UNK the lead back at the 4:07 mark.

Action was back and forth after that with Zecic, formerly of Idaho State and Division II Texas-Tyler, tough to handle all night. He hit 7 of 12 shots while adding seven assists with Slaymaker, previously at D1 Cal State Northridge, sinking 11 of 13 freebies. The Storm was 24 of 35 at the line; the Lopers 10 of 14.

Colorado junior guard Sean Evans converted a three-point play to knot things up at 81 with 37 seconds remaining and prior to the game-winning bucket. Zecic's shot hit the rim before bouncing through the net.

Also for the Lopers, junior point guard Miguel Robles (East L.A. ) had a team-high 24 points on 8 of 12 shooting (4 of 7 threes). He also didn't commit a turnover in nearly 33 minutes of work. Next, Murphy had a career-high 18 points and nine boards thanks to 8 of 10 shooting. Finally, Colorado freshman guard D'Aundre Samuels had 10 points, five boards and four dimes in coming off the bench.

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