Lopers Have Plus 20 Rebounding Margin But 17 Turnovers are Costly
Kearney, Neb. – All-American candidate Kaleb Hammeke converted a layup with 6.5 seconds left to cap a 14-6 game ending run and help Fort Hays State past Nebraska Kearney, 57-55, Saturday evening in Kansas. The 138th all-time meeting between the Lopers and Tigers, Hays (12-5, 7-4) moves to 9-2 at home while the Lopers (3-13, 1-9) remain winless in Gross Memorial Coliseum since February 2017. UNK has now suffered eight losses by 10 points or less. "I felt our guys battled but the one stat that sticks out is our 17 turnovers to their five. They had a 21-7 advantage in points-off-turnovers and that's it in a nutshell," said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton on the KRVN Radio post-game show. "It seems like a broken record but we're inching closer." Facing Division II's top defensive team (56.7 points per game), UNK led by nine points in the first half, for 24:38 overall and was up 49-43 with 4:08 remaining. The Lopers had a chance to extend that lead but a contested three from the left wing didn't fall as the shot clock was winding down. The Tigers responded with back-to-back three-point plays from the Hammeke brothers, both southpaws. UNK held Kaleb in-check until the final five minutes; he finished with a game-high 18 points on 7 of 12 shooting. Younger brother Lucas had seven off the bench on 3 of 3 shooting with rest of the Tigers a combined 12 of 43 from the field. "We really rebounded the ball well and put ourselves in position but just made a couple of costly turnovers down the stretch," said Lofton. "It's little things that in a game like this you can't do if you're going to pull it out." Working around foul trouble all day, UNK saw Utah super senior Darrian Nebeker grab an offensive rebound that led to a top of the key from Colorado sophomore guard Sean Evans. However, Kaleb Hammeke responded with a layup to make it 52-51 with just under 2:00 to play. A Loper turnover led to a Tigers layup but Nebeker hit a three from the right wing with 1:00 to go to help UNK retake the lead. But the Hammeke's teamed up for an ally-oop layup to knot things up for the fifth and final time soon after. UNK missed a jumper on its next possession with the older Hammeke winning things via a drive down the lane. The Lopers had a chance to tie or win it but a contested fadeaway three from Evans didn't drop from the right wing. "We're still trying to find ways to get better. Today in stretches I thought we had our moments," said Lofton. "You always wish you could have a play or two back." The Lopers were plus 20 on the glass but 17 turnovers turned into 21 Tiger points. The Blue & Gold also tallied just one point in the second half after a FHSU intentional foul (1 of 2 free throws, subsequent turnover) and the Tiger bench out scored the Lopers, 26-17. Nebeker paced UNK with 14 points, four assists and three boards with Evans hitting 5 of 10 shots to tally 12. Wahoo senior forward Winston Cook (12 points, seven rebounds) had another big effort off the bench with New Zealand senior reserve Matt Brien at five points and five boards in 16 minutes. Besides the Hammeke brothers, 6-5 sophomore guard Traejon Davis had 15 points, six caroms and three dimes for the Tigers. UNK is at nationally-ranked Emporia State (13-3, 7-3) on Wednesday night.
Comments