UNK MBB: Newman Gets Rare 40-Point Game to Win 84-74

Evans Continues to Twinkle the Twine

Kearney, Neb. – Six-six junior guard Stevie Smith scored 40 points and the Newman Jets went on a 17-0 run in the first half to down Nebraska Kearney, 84-74, Saturday evening in Wichita.

NU (7-15) takes the season series from UNK (4-18) with the Lopers now 2-2 all-time in Fugate Gym.

Strong, formerly of Division I Abilene (Texas) Christian), came into the weekend ranked fifth in the MIAA in scoring at just over 17 per game. He had that tally by halftime tonight and then went for 23 over the final 20 minutes.

“We thought we had a solid game plan (for Strong) but once he gets going, he’s hard to stop,” said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton on the KRVN Radio post-game show. “He can get to the basket, shoot the three. They are not a team you want to sit in a zone and tried to hide from because they can get hot.”

UNK used balanced scoring to jet out to a 38-21 lead 16 minutes into the game. That’s when the tides turned as NU scored the next 17 points before Colorado sophomore guard Sean Evans hit a jumper before the halftime buzzer. The Jets momentum continued, however, after the break as they scored 20 of the first 29 points. The Lopers hung around the rest of the way but could never get the deficit under four points.

“I told our team they can go on big runs and that’s pretty much what happened at the end of half,” said Lofton. “They kept the run going but we started to reel them back in but we just couldn’t get over the hump.”

Hitting shots from the parking lot, Strong finished 13 of 22 (7 of 12 threes) from the field and 7 of 8 at the line. Over 39 minutes he also had five rebounds and two assists. NU had two other double figure scorers in Latik Murphy (13) and Sam Somerhalder (11, 11 rebounds).

Newman shot 62% after the break and was close to 80% until late in the going. The Lopers shot an even 50% from the field, sunk 11 threes, was just minus four on the glass but committed 12 turnovers.

Evans went all 40 minutes and tallied a team-best 21 points on 7 of 9 (4 of 5 threes) shooting. He also had four boards, three assists, a block and steal. Next, Utah super senior Darrian Nebeker had 20 points on 7 of 15 shooting with Wahoo senior reserve Winston Cook at 14 points on 6 of 8 shooting. Finally, South Dakota sophomore forward Ryder Kirsch got close to a rare triple double (nine rebounds, eight assists, seven points).

“It’s a good group but we have to learn to have a more of a competitive spirit,” said Lofton. “Some way, somehow you have to find a way to create momentum for us.”

UNK hosts Central Missouri and Lincoln next weekend.