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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

Taylor Harrell & Coach Taylor
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications
68
HASTINGS HASTINGS 2-6
71
Winner Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB 3-3
HASTINGS HASTINGS
2-6
68
Final
71
Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB
3-3
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
HASTINGS HASTINGS 33 35 68
Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB 32 39 71

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Wayne State

11/29/2025 | 4 p;.m.

The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM

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Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

UNK Strong at the Line Late to Win Home Opener, 71-68

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney men's basketball team sunk four free throws in the final 11 seconds to slip past Hastings College, 71-68, Wednesday evening at the Heath & Sports Center.

This was the home opener for the Lopers (3-3) while the Broncos remain 2-6 as this was an exhibition contest per NAIA rules. UNK and Hastings hadn't met on the court since Dec. 2019 with this being the 196th game in the series. The Broncos now lead, 104-92. Clayton Moore

Led by Omaha junior guards Ben Boudreau (game-high 21 points; six rebounds) and Illinois senior guards DaRon Hall (15 points). Hastings jumped out to a 17-5 advantage and led for 27 minutes. Thanks to a size advantage and some defensive pressure, the Lopers not only whittled down that early deficit but held two late first half leads.

"I'll try to use that (no playing for 10 days) as the excuse for the slow start and sluggishness. We felt it in shoot around, and we tried to get on them. We felt it in warm ups, and we tried to get on them," said UNK head coach Marty Levinson. "Once they came out and got that big early lead, that's when we kind of got going. We got a little bit more aggressive."

Neither team led by more than seven points in the second half with an 8-0 UNK run making it 47-41 with just under 11 to play. Redshirt senior guard Ja'Bryant Hill (Duncanville, Texas) had six of his team-best 17 points during this stretch with redshirt sophomore Clayton Moore (Mullen) throwing down a dunk after taking a pass from senior guard Wade Williams (Huntsville, Texas). Williams kept the possession alive thanks to an offensive rebound; UNK had 13 to tally 16 second chance points.

However, Maimi senior reserve guard Christian Pujals quickly hit two threes and later converted a driving layup to spark the Broncos. That cut the Loper lead to one at the 6:34 mark, 54-53, and the two teams went back-and-forth the rest of the way.

"We got into that press (in the second half) and that turned them over a little bit, led to our run. But then they went to their bench, and number 24 came in and started splashing threes. He was ready for his moment and then, after the threes, he got to the basket," said Levinson.

Hall sunk two free throws to give Hastings a 66-65 lead at 1:46 and UNK missed a shot soon after, but Pujals stepped out of bounds trying to drive baseline. That helped the Lopers retake the lead as Hill made a quick layup for the game's final field goal. Hall, Hill and Williams combined to go 6 for 6 at the line to complete the scoring. Hill's gave UNK the lead once again while Williams made his two shots after Hall missed a shot in the lane. A desperation heave at the buzzer from inside half court by Pujals fell well short.

Both teams shot 42.6% from the field with UNK 15 of 21 at the line and Hastings 16 of 18. Next, the Lopers were plus 14 on the glass but committed three more turnovers. Finally, both squads got 16 points off their bench.

For Hastings, Boudreau made 7 of 12 shots to reach his total, Hall went 6 of 6 at the line with Pujals 5 of 6 from the field and scoring 14 in 14 minutes.

Hill made 6 of 12 shots and 4 of 7 free throws to reach his point tally for UNK. The balanced attack featured six others between four and 13 points and that included Moore, Williams and Texas junior post Taylor Harrell (13 & nine rebounds).

"Definitely not some of our best basketball but some of that has to do with Hastings," said Levinson. "JB has showed us repeatedly he's a winner. We know he's going to make big shots even when he isn't playing great."

Both Loper teams host Wayne State on Saturday, the women tipping at 2 p.m. and the men's game starting around 4 p.m.
 
 
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Players Mentioned

Taylor Harrell

#6 Taylor Harrell

C
6' 10"
Junior
Ja

#3 Ja'Bryant Hill

G
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Clayton Moore

#24 Clayton Moore

G/F
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
Wade Williams

#23 Wade Williams

G
6' 5"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Taylor Harrell

#6 Taylor Harrell

6' 10"
Junior
C
Ja

#3 Ja'Bryant Hill

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
G
Clayton Moore

#24 Clayton Moore

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
G/F
Wade Williams

#23 Wade Williams

6' 5"
Senior
G