Nebraska Kearney 64 Wayne State 56
Nebraska Kearney held on to defeat Wayne State 64-58 Tuesday night at the Health and Sports Center in Kearney. The Lopers made eight straight free throws in the final minute to defeat the Wildcats. The win makes the Lopers 4-2 overall this season and the loss drops the Wildcats to 1-4 on the season.
The Wildcats held the lead early lead against the Lopers, but Wayne State was held scoreless for nine minutes late in the first half and early second half. UNK held its largest lead of the game 42-23 at the 14:03 mark of the second half, but Wayne State battled back to cut the Nebraska Kearney lead to 48-43 at the 7:06 mark of the second stanza. UNK then scored seven straight points to lead 55-43 with 3:06 left in the game. The Wildcats would not give up that easy as WSC cut the lead to 58-54 with 42 seconds left thanks to Amry Shelby's layup and free throw. UNK held strong hitting their last eight free throws to defeat the Wildcats for the first time since 2006-07.
Wayne State shot 44 percent (22-49) from the field and 40 percent (4-10) from the three point line. WSC also shot 100 percent from the free throw line going 8 for 8. UNK shot 46 percent (23-50) from the field and shot 20.4 percent (7-23) from the three point line. The Lopers held the advantage on the boards against the Wildcats 29-28. Wayne State committed 18 turnovers on the night to Nebraska Kearney's 16.
Brad Starken led the Wildcats in scoring with 16 points on the night shooting 80 percent (4 of 5) from the three point line. Brett Spiker tied a career high with 14 points going 6 for 11 from the field and 2 for 2 from the free throw line. Jason Jensen added 10 points going 4 of 9 from the field and 2 for 2 from the free throw line. Both Spiker and Starken grabbed six rebounds to lead the Wildcats.
Josiah Parker led the way for UNK with 12 points going 6 of 8 from the field. Brian Ridgeway added 12 points and Jeremy Cruise added 10 points. Parker also grabbed seven boards on the night with Max Froehlich adding six rebounds.
Wayne State will open Northern Sun Conference play at home this weekend, hosting Northern State Friday night at 8:00 p.m. and the University of Mary Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m.
