Nebeker Closing in on 1,000 Points
Kearney Neb. – The Missouri Southern State Lions sunk 17 three pointers to defeat Nebraska Kearney, 86-59, Thursday night in Joplin. MSSU improves to 16-9 (12-7) and wins a third straight home game. They are in sole possession of sixth place in the MIAA and take the season series from the Lopers. The Lions were coming off an 11 of 27 effort from behind the arc in a 103-93 overtime win over rival Pittsburg State last Saturday. That hot shooting didn't go away as they went 9 of 13 from downtown in the first half and 8 of 15 after the break. The 17 of 28 effort matches the total Bemidji State recorded in a 96-90 win over UNK to start the year. "They shot the ball tonight much like the way they did against Pitt State. When they are at home, they are a totally different animal," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton on the KRVN Radio post-game show. "They were feeling it tonight to the tune of 17 which is way too many." Junior guard Winston Dessesow led the way by making 7 of 9 long range shots to tally a team-best 27 points. He finished 8 of 16 from the field overall and added four assists and two steals. Six teammates sunk at least one three as well with three between two and three. "We played some zone and actually only gave up two or three (threes) .. the rest of the time it was against man," said Lofton. "A lot of the threes we were rotating and scrambling and they were doing a good job of throwing that one extra pass. Sometimes two more and the ball seem to find the right guy at the right time." UNK was down 38-28 with 4:06 left in the half before the Lions spurted thanks to three triples on three straight possessions. That made it 49-32 and the Green & Gold never looked back. They ended up shooting 52% from the field, were plus 15 on the glass and got 34 bench points. Utah super senior forward Darrian Nebeker led the Lopers in points (16), rebounds (seven) and assists (five). He needs 17 points Saturday at Pittsburg State to be the 44th Loper with 1,000 in a career. "We had five missed bunnies in the first half and when a team is playing that well you've got to capitalize on everything you get," said Lofton. "Some of them were contested pretty heavily at the rim but you still have got to find ways to finish them." Next, South Dakota redshirt sophomore forward Ryder Kirsch had 11 points and seven boards with Colorado sophomore guard Sean Evans (10) and New Zealand senior reserve Matt Brien (nine) combining for 19 points on four made threes. UNK (5-20, 3-16) beat Pitt State (6-19, 3-16) earlier this year, 63-61. The Gorillas fell tonight to Fort Hays State, 71-49.
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