Pitt and MSSU Visit this Weekend
Kearney, Neb. – Ten different players got into the scoring column and Central Missouri used strong defense to beat Nebraska Kearney, 62-48, Thursday night in Warrensburg. The Mules (7-6, 3-4) win a third straight over UNK (2-11, 0-7) with the two meeting again on Feb. 9 in the Health & Sports Center. "Traditionally, they've always gotten out, denied and done a good job of disrupting what you're trying to run. That's what happened first half," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton on the KRVN radio postgame show. "We have a young team and we can tell them what's going to happen but until you get out there and experience it … all of a sudden we have the deer-in-the head lights look. Couldn't get into anything offensively." UCM hit seven threes and took advantage of 17 turnovers to lead 31-17 at the break and for most of the night. UNK trailed 16-14 at the 8:52 mark after a jumper by Utah super senior Darrian Nebeker but the Mules finished the half on a 15-3 run. They also limited Nebeker (16.9 points and 4.5 assists per game) to six points and two dimes. "They did a good job on Darrian. They got a feel for what we were trying to do with our motion and then really keyed and loaded to him," said Lofton. Wahoo senior forward Winston Cook had a big second half and ended up with team-highs in both points (14) and rebounds (seven). UNK and UCM both tallied 31 points in the second half; the Lopers outscored Lincoln 36-34 in Saturday's second half. Fourth in the MIAA in scoring defense and second in steals, UCM limited UNK to 37% shooting with 11 of those 17 turnovers coming off a steal. The Lopers also went 3 of 9 at the line and ended up 7 of 26 from behind the arc. "Winston was able to drive his matchup (in the second half), got a few slips, got around the basket and finished," said Lofton. "He's going to get opportunities and hopefully he can build from this." Offensively, no Mule scored more than 10 points as they shot 42% from the field. Having their own issues from the line (9 of 17) and arc (7 of 27), UCM was plus five on the glass and tallied 23 of its points off turnovers. Starters Mikel Henderson and Gaven Pinkley both had 10 points to lead UCM with Henderson adding four steals. Finally, eight Mule reserves combined for 22 points and 20 boards. Besides Cook, UNK got 10 points and five rebounds from Colorado sophomore guard Sean Evans with reserves Skylar Wilson (Centennial, Colo.), Cam Binder (Auburn) and Jaleque Dunson (Sioux City, Ia.) combining for 16 points off the bench. UNK hosts Pittsburg State Thursday night. The Gorillas (5-8, 2-5 lost at rival Missouri Southern tonight, 84-63.
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