UNK MBB: Lopers Fall in Wayne
Five players scored in double figures to help Wayne State beat Nebraska Kearney, 95-68, Saturday evening in Wayne.
The Wildcats (7-0) remain unbeaten in the young season and square the series with the Lopers (2-2) over the last 14 games.
UNK held early leads of 8-2 and 21-20 but it was all WSC after that. They went on a 17-4 run to open a 37-25 advantage and then closed the half on a 12-0 spurt. After giving up 57 first half points, the Lopers lost the second by only a 38-35 margin.
"We started off decently but from there we didn't play well. Our offense wasn't crisp, we didn't get out and run like we wanted to, and we were stagnant," said UNK interim head coach Antoine Young said after the game. "They also got all the 50-50 balls and offensive rebounds."
The Lopers came in averaging 90.0 points per game on 56% from the field. Wayne, meanwhile, was allowing just 52 points per game and holding opponents to 34% shooting. They won that battle today, limiting UNK to 41% from the floor while also being plus six on the glass and having a plus seven turnover margin.
"When you're losing the 50-50 balls and offensive rebounds, it kills you. Defensively, we've got to be spot on, regardless if we're scoring or not," said Young. "Tonight, we had a lull where our defense was dictated by not getting easy buckets. At home, I told them we were the tougher team but tonight they were. You must be the tougher team every night."
Starting point guard Miguel Robles (East L.A.) led UNK with 13 points on 4 of 5 (2 of 2 threes) shooting). In 15 minutes of work, he also drew three fouls. Next, junior wing Taden King (Rexburg, Idaho) had 10 thanks to 4 for 4 free throw shooting with junior guard Sean Evans (Parker, Colo.) hit two triples to tally 10 as well. Finally, redshirt junior wing Damiri Lindo (Oakland) made his Loper debut and had nine points on 4 of 7 shooting in 21 minutes off the bench.
Wayne scored 23 points off UNK turnovers and made 52% of its shots on the day. David Harmon and JJ Ferrin came off the pine to combine for 27 points, seven boards and three dimes with starters Elijah Watson and Cody McCullough both at 12 points. Watson also had a team-best seven rebounds.
"I think our non-con has prepared us for what's coming. We've played number 23 (Southern Nazarene) on the road, Chadron will probably win 20 games and Western Colorado should finish in the middle of the pack in the RMAC," said Young. "And Wayne might win the South Division of the NSIC."
UNK heads to Rogers State (1-2) and Northeastern State (4-1) next weekend to begin MIAA play.
