UNK MBB: Lopers Slip Past the Wildcats, 62-59

Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard Ja’Bryant Hill and junior forward Anthony Swift combined for 27 points and Nebraska Kearney made some plays down the stretch to beat Wayne State, 62-59, Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.
UNK (4-3) goes 2-0 this Holiday weekend while the Wildcats fall to 3-3. The two teams have split the last 16 meetings with four of the last five games decided by 10 points or less.
Neither team led by more than six points all night with Wayne grabbing a 57-56 lead with just 1:28 remaining after a three from redshirt freshman reserve guard Darshan Thomas. Swift (Las Vegas) more than responded as he threw down a thunderous dunk 20 seconds later. He took a pass from junior post Taylor Harrell (Huntsville, Texas) and barreled down the lane for two of his 12 points.
However, senior guard Kai Smith hit two free throws to give Wayne the back at the 46 second mark. UNK countered when junior guard Kendrick Gilbert (St. Louis) converted a layup with the assist to Hill (Duncanville, Texas). The ‘Cats called timeout with 19 seconds left but Swift blocked a shot by sophomore forward Matt Noll and then Noll stepped out of bounds after taking an inbounds pass. Hill hit two freebies with only five seconds left to finish the scoring with a desperation three from near the Wayne bench by reserve Ben Kerkhoff falling well short.
UNK was plus four on the glass, got 18 bench points and went 8 of 9 at the line in the second half. Working around two early fouls, Hill had 15 points and six assists with he and Swift both making five shots. Next, Harrell had nine points and six boards, Colorado senior reserve Tom Connelly had two of UNK’s six threes with Mullen sophomore Clayton Moore at seven points, three caroms and two steals.
Wayne got 13 points from both Smith and forward Andrew Stokes but was just 5 of 26 from downtown.
The Lopers head to nationally-ranked Washburn and Central Missouri to begin MIAA play next week.