UNK MBB: Lopers Win Rare 2OT Game

Seniors Ja'Bryant Hill and Kendrick Gilbert combined for 47 points to help Nebraska Kearney out last Northwest Missouri State in double overtime, 95-89, Thursday night in Maryville.

The Lopers (9-9, 2-5) avenge an earlier season loss to the Bearcats (9-9, 2-5) and win their first double OT game in 23 years.

UNK seemingly was going to take things in regulation as it led throughout and by as many as nine points. However, the 'Cats hung around and closed on a 9-2 run over the last 2:41. Junior forward Jack Ratigan tallied a putback bucket with almost no time remaining to tie things at 77 and force extra time. The Lopers went one of two at the line with 16 seconds left and before the final flurry of shots.

"Shout out to DJ Jamerson and Phillip March who haven't had a lot of minutes for us up to this point, but they went in and played great basketball. They did their job and everyone had to play to their strength," said UNK head coach Marty Levinson after the game. 

The Blue & Gold, like in regulation, controlled the extra period, but Northwest wouldn't go away. UNK was up 83-77 after a Hill (Dallas) shot in the lane with 3:07 remaining. Once again, the 'Cats came back, tying things at 85 after two free throws from Papillion freshman forward Robby Garcia. After the Lopers missed a shot, Garcia was apparently fouled with one tenth of a second left. The 60% free throw shooter missed both shots, so UNK appropriately lived on.

In the second extra period, Gilbert (St. Louis) hit a jumper at 3:13 to break the ice. About two minutes later, redshirt senior Tom Connelly (Denver) sunk a triple to finally put things away.

"We out rebounded them by 10 which was huge and once again we were pretty good from the free throw line," said Levinson.

Gilbert finished with a career-best 22 on 6 of 9 (FG) and 9 of 10 (FT) shooting with Hill making 10 freebies and seven shots. Finally, Las Vegas junior forward Anthony Swift sunk 5 of 7 threes to tally 18 with Texas junior reserve post Taylor Harrell (10 points, nine rebounds) close to a double double.

Northwest had three starters in double digits, led by guard Larenz Walters (24).

Fort Hays State fell to Missouri Western, 74-61, tonight in Missouri.