UNK MBB: Bearcats Sink 18 Threes To Down Lopers

The No. 11/16 Northwest Missouri State Bearcats sunk 18 of 30 three pointers to down Nebraska Kearney, 105-53, Thursday night in Maryville.

The ‘Cats are now 16-4 (12-2), a perfect 8-0 at home and have taken the last 10 meetings with the Lopers.

Coming into the weekend, Northwest was shooting .496 percent from the field and .367 from behind the arc. They were averaging 7.1 made treys a game but sunk 10 of 12 over the first 20 minutes tonight. They then “cooled off” after the break to make 8 of 18 such shots. Six-five junior guard Mitch Mascari (6 of 7) had the hottest hand with reserves Spencer Schomers and Luke Moustakas having four apiece.

To reach the Century mark for the second time this season, the ‘Cats shot a season-high 63% from the field, were plus 18 on the glass and got 45 bench points. Mascari had a game-high 23 with Lincoln super senior and forward Wes Dreamer at 19. Next, Schomers and Moustakas had 14 apiece with starting guard Daniel Abreu at 11. Finally, starting guard Isaiah Jackson provided 11 assists.

UNK was paced by New Zealand junior forward Sean Murphy (14 points, eight rebounds; 7 of 13 shooting), California redshirt junior wing Damiri Lindo (12 points) and Wahoo super senior forward Winston Cook (nine points in 12 minutes).

The Lopers head to Missouri Western on Saturday evening. The Griffons (14-6, 8-6) have lost three in a row after tonight’s 55-40 decision to nationally-ranked Fort Hays State.