Nebraska-Kearney Edges Mavs, 80-72
Dec 6, 2003 | Men's Basketball
The Mavericks suffered through a cold-shooting night-- especially at the free throw line -- in absorbing their first loss of the season, 80-72, to Nebraska-Kearney Saturday night in front of 2,700 at Sapp Fieldhouse.
UNO (6-1) hit just 14 of 30 free throws as a second-half rally fell short of the Lopers, who improved to 5-0. Ty Graham's 14 points and 13 by Tola Dada led the Mavericks.
UNK pulled away from a tie at 26 in the final 4:14 of the first half to take a 40-34 lead into the break.
UNO erased the margin with a 12-4 run to tie the game at 48 on Graham's layup with 14:19 remaining. The Mavericks couldn't snatch the lead, however, missing five straight free throws and seven out of eight as the Lopers regrouped and rebuilt their lead to 60-51 with 7:36 left to play.
UNO made another run on layups by Andre Tarpley, Dada and Graham and pulled within a pair, 61-59, with 5:04 left on a free throw by C.J. Martin. After UNK's Nick Branting hit a pair of free throws, Graham nailed a three-pointer and UNO trailed by a point. The Mavs would get no closer.
Chad Sheffield hit a pair of baskets to build the margin back to five. UNO closed to within 68-66 with 3:04 left on a pair of free throws by Graham, but a three-point play by Cameron Lollar and a tip-in by Sheffield drove the final nails in the coffin.
UNK hit its final seven free throws in the closing minute to ice the win.
Branting and Brian Dunegan each scored 17 points and Branting added nine rebounds to lead the Lopers.
UNO shot just 41.3 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from the line. The Lopers, who hit 42.6 percent from the field, converted 31 of 41 free shots (75.6 percent).
UNO's next action will come Monday night at Sapp Fieldhouse when it hosts York at 7 p.m.
UNO (6-1) hit just 14 of 30 free throws as a second-half rally fell short of the Lopers, who improved to 5-0. Ty Graham's 14 points and 13 by Tola Dada led the Mavericks.
UNK pulled away from a tie at 26 in the final 4:14 of the first half to take a 40-34 lead into the break.
UNO erased the margin with a 12-4 run to tie the game at 48 on Graham's layup with 14:19 remaining. The Mavericks couldn't snatch the lead, however, missing five straight free throws and seven out of eight as the Lopers regrouped and rebuilt their lead to 60-51 with 7:36 left to play.
UNO made another run on layups by Andre Tarpley, Dada and Graham and pulled within a pair, 61-59, with 5:04 left on a free throw by C.J. Martin. After UNK's Nick Branting hit a pair of free throws, Graham nailed a three-pointer and UNO trailed by a point. The Mavs would get no closer.
Chad Sheffield hit a pair of baskets to build the margin back to five. UNO closed to within 68-66 with 3:04 left on a pair of free throws by Graham, but a three-point play by Cameron Lollar and a tip-in by Sheffield drove the final nails in the coffin.
UNK hit its final seven free throws in the closing minute to ice the win.
Branting and Brian Dunegan each scored 17 points and Branting added nine rebounds to lead the Lopers.
UNO shot just 41.3 percent from the field and 46.7 percent from the line. The Lopers, who hit 42.6 percent from the field, converted 31 of 41 free shots (75.6 percent).
UNO's next action will come Monday night at Sapp Fieldhouse when it hosts York at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
