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University of Nebraska - Kearney Athletics

86
Winner Rogers State RSU 12-7, 6-4 MIAA
77
Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB 10-11, 3-7 MIAA
Winner
Rogers State RSU
12-7, 6-4 MIAA
86
Final
77
Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB
10-11, 3-7 MIAA
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Rogers State RSU 36 50 86
Neb.-Kearney UNKMBB 41 36 77
Anthony Swift
Erika Pritchard, UNK Communications

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Big Second Half Propels Rogers to an 86-77 Victory

Kearney, Neb. – The Rogers State Hillcats sunk 39 free throws and started the second half on an 13-3 run to rally past Nebraska Kearney, 86-77, Saturday afternoon at Buckle Court.

From Claremore, Okla., RSU (12-7) is now 8-2 all-time vs. UNK (10-11, 3-7) with this being the only meeting between the two this winter.

"Rogers State is tough. It's hard to go into Fort Hays and win and they lost in overtime (Thursday night) so you knew they had that toughness," said UNK head coach Marty Levinson on the KRVIN Radio post-game show. "We came out and were about the right things but as the game went on, we got out of our groove a little bit. They out rebounded us, we turned it over 15 times, and they got to the line a lot on us."

Things started out great for the Lopers as they made 14 of 19 two-point shots (74%) in the first half to lead by many as 11 and by five at the break. However, the 'Cats closed the half on a 12-6 run that included a four-point possession thanks to a technical foul. The momentum continued after the intermission as Rogers jetted out to a 49-44 lead by the 15:43 mark. They made five of their first eight shots and went 3 of 4 at the line to never trail again.

RSU went 9 of 12 at the line in the first half but made a living at the charity stripe in half two, sinking 30 of 35 shots. Last Saturday in an 89-80 loss at Missouri Western, the Griffons made 33 of 42 freebies. There's been four other games where UNK's opponent has attempted at least 30 free shots.

UNK made just 9 of 25 shots (0 for 7 threes) in the second half but trailed by only five with 2:40 left. After forcing a turnover, the Lopers missed a shot. and then an RSU offensive putback bucket extended the lead to seven. UNK didn't get closer than six the rest of the way.

Senior guard Jabryn Anderson (29 points; 15 of 16 FT's) and senior forward Caden Fry (14 points; 10 of15 FT's) led the way with 2024 MIAA Freshman of the Year Tim Jordan Jr. effective as well (15 points, six rebounds).

UNK was paced by Las Vegas junior forward Anthony Swift (17 points, nine rebounds), Mullen sophomore wing Clayton Moore (13 points, six rebounds) and Texas senior point guard Ja'Bryant Hill (16 points, three assists).

The Lopers host Central Missouri (15-7, 6-4) and No. 1 ranked Washburn (20-0, 10-0) next weekend.
 
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