UNK Men Win At NW Missouri State 78-70

Redshirt junior guard Ja'Bryant Hill scored a team-high 22 points to help Nebraska Kearney hold off Northwest Missouri State, 78-70, Saturday afternoon in Maryville.

The Lopers (4-8, 2-2) pick up a weekend road sweep while the Bearcats (3-10, 1-3) suffer a third straight loss. This also marks UNK's second all-time win over
Northwest in 19 tries.

"We came out and had a nice fast start," said UNK head coach Marty Levinson on the KRVN Radio post-game show. "But they stormed back … basketball is such a game of runs and that's why it's it so fun to watch. We had to pick ourselves off the mat and find our way out of it."

UNK made nine of its first 11 shots to open a 24-9 lead eight minutes in. However, the 'Cats stormed back to lead 33-31 before the Lopers countered to move ahead 43-41 at the break. They never trailed again but the 'Cats hung around all second half with the Lopers getting a late bucket from post Taylor Harrell (Huntsville, Texas) to go up 64-59 at the 6:35 mark. Northwest wouldn't get closer than three points the rest of the way.

"Shoutout to Will Wade at McNeese State. He recruited one of my players (at Trinity Valley College) and I went down to Lake Charles and watched their weave," said Levinson. "It's a way, when you have a little bit of a lead, to steal some time. But all that sounds good when Ja'Bryant makes good read after good read."

After 24 and 23-points efforts in his last two games, Hill went 9 of 18 (2 of 7 threes) from the field today. He also added six steals, five assists, and two rebounds. Next, veteran Chase Thompson (Omaha Westside) hit three triples to score 16 with Harrell also at 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting. He added six boards and a block in 28 minutes of work.

Northwest was paced by transfer Emorie Knox who went for 24 points on 10 of 12 shooting (3 of 4 threes). He also had six assists and four steals with reserve Trey Moala (15) the only other 'Cat in double figures.

"Every team has a guy that stirs the pot and can score the ball," said Levinson. "We did a good job of getting into the gaps and seeing the ball but everyone in this league has a guy."

UNK visits Fort Hays State Tuesday. The Tigers (9-4, 2-2) lost today at Missouri Western, 47-44.