Jets on the Road, Swedes at Home Before the Break

12/13/2023 5:24:00 PM

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney men's basketball team visits Newman and hosts NAIA Bethany (Kan.) over the next week before taking a Holiday break.

The Lopers (4-4, 2-2) head to Wichita on Friday to face the Jets (4-5, 1-3) while the Swedes (2-7) come to Buckle Court on Dec. 19 (Tues.). The game at NU begins at 7:30 p.m. with the Bethany contest tipping at 6 p.m. The contests are available on The MIAA Network and The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM.

Newman, led by junior guard Stevie Strong and 6-6 senior wing Stevie Smith, swept the Lopers last year. The Jets had all five starters score in double digits to win at the Health & Sports Center, 74-71, with Strong going for 40 to help his team rally at home. UNK led by 16 late in the first half before NU came back and then ran away, 84-74. Strong had another 40-point effort last year as well. UNK MBB 2023/24

Strong (13.5 points, 3.8 assists 3.3 rebounds) and Smith (12.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists) and 6-7 sophomore wing Sam Somerhalder (11.2 points, 7.0 rebounds) have helped NU post a 4-2 home mark to date. Newman had a plus 1.9 turnover margin, shots 68% at the line and sinks seven triples a night.

Bethany heads to Doane this Saturday with their game against the Lopers exhibition per NAIA rules. The only previous meeting between UNK and Bethany came early in the 1961-62 season. The game was played in Hastings with UNK winning, 64-61. A deep Swedes roster is led by 6-4 junior Jamal Frenchwood (11.6 points, 6.5 rebounds) and 6-1 junior guard Devin Spencer (15.1 points). The Swedes average 64 points per game and shoot 40% from the field.

UNK continues to shoot it well, ranking 37th nationally and third in the MIAA in field goal percentage (.492). Six Lopers are shooting over 50% led by forwards Sean Murphy (.633) and Ryder Kirsch (.647) with guards Miguel Robles (.469) and Sean Evans (.457) hot from behind the arc. At the line, the Lopers are up to 73% with Evans (7 for 7) and junior Taden King (8 for 8) having yet to miss.

Next, Murphy (8.6) is fourth in the league in board work with freshman D'Aundre Samuels having a 2-to-1-assist-to-turnover ratio to rank fifth in the MIAA. Finally, junior lefty Damiri Lindo (15.6) is now the team's leading scorer after missing the first three games of the year due to injury. He's 30 of 60 from the field and also ranks second in rebound average (5.2) and is one of six Lopers with a double digit assist total.

The Division II moratorium runs from Dec. 20-26 this year with UNK having a quick turnaround to get ready for nationally-ranked Central Oklahoma (8-1) on Dec. 29 in Edmond. That game was moved to that date as the Bronchos are in Las Vegas this weekend for a non-con tournament.

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