UNK MBB: Trojans Spoil Home Opener, 78-76

Kearney, Neb. – Dakota State shot 60 percent in the second half and senior post Colby Dillenbeck scored the winning bucket with 14 seconds left as the Trojans got past Nebraska Kearney, 78-76, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.
 
This was the home opener for the Lopers (0-3) who've lost three games by a total of eight points. For Madison, S.D.-based DSU (4-3), this was an exhibition contest per NAIA rules.  

Lefty graduate guard Allen Taylor (Bradley, Ark.) hit three threes over a 1:43 span to trim a six-point deficit to two, 74-72. A Taylor steal then led to a layup by redshirt junior forward Kendrick Gilbert (St. Louis) with 2:37 left. Two free throws from graduate forward Chase Thompson (Omaha Westside) tied things up for the third and final time, 76-76, with 1:04 remaining. Both teams missed shots and then DSU called a timeout. That led to Dillenbeck scoring in the paint; the Trojans had a 42-28 advantage as well a plus six rebounding margin.

UNK had a chance to win or tie the game but a three by Taylor hit iron and then a Gilbert putback attempt was blocked by freshman guard Tyler Beckwith. The Lopers did get another crack but that was about a 55-heave at the buzzer that fell well short.

"They came out in the second half and found the right guys. They shot the ball really well .. they were pretty uncontested, so we had some breakdowns defensively," said Loper head coach Marty Levinson. "Once they see a couple of those go in, they start feeling good and they executed their motion offense."

The Lopers led by many as 14 in the first half and were up 39-29 at the break. A putback bucket by Taylor initially was counted at the end of the half but later waved off. DSU was just 2 of 11 from behind the arc in the half but made 6 of 9 from downtown over the final 20 minutes. They also were 7 of 9 at the line and limited UNK to 7 of 29 triple shooting.

"We wore down a little bit and they took advantage of some matchups. They also have eight games under their belt and we're still a new team," said Levinson.

Using 14 different players, the Trojans were led by Dillenbeck (17 points, six rebounds, two steals), Tietz (13 points, six assists) and Beckwith (12 points, seven rebounds). Tietz went 3 of 4 from deep with starting guard Brayden Pankonen close to a double double (10 points, eight rebounds) as well.

Thanks to that late flurry, Taylor had a game-high 21 points thanks to 5 of 12 three-point shooting. He also supplied five steals and three assists. Next, Thompson worked around four fouls to have 15 points with Gilbert at 16 points, seven boards, three dimes and a block. Finally, Mullen redshirt freshman Clayton Moore had five points and five boards coming off the bench.

"This was the first time we've seen a matchup zone like that. That takes away your play calls because they just switch everything," said Levinson. "You have to get some cutters and movement. I felt like we didn't defend well, we didn't read them well and our player and ball movement wasn't very good. That's a recipe for disaster."

UNK is at Wayne State (2-0) next Wednesday. The Wildcats host Barclay (Kan.) College on Friday and Bellevue on Monday.