Mavs a Win From Title After Edging Jacks
Feb 27, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Ty Graham scored 24 points to lead the Mavericks within a victory of their first North Central Conference title in 20 years with a 74-63 win over No. 2 South Dakota State in front of 3,600 at Sapp Fieldhouse. UNO (19-7, 9-4) will host Augustana Saturday night at 8 in the final game of the regular season.
The Mavericks, who now own two wins over the 25-4, 9-4 Jackrabbits, can clinch the championship with a win or if SDSU loses Saturday night at South Dakota. The NCC winner will be the host of the NCC post-season tournament, the Wells Fargo Finals, March 5-6.
The Mavericks never trailed the first half and built a 40-31 lead at halftime with a 10-3 run to close the half over the last six minutes.
The Jackrabbits recovered early in the second half and finally claimed the lead with twice midway through, but suffered through poor shooting. SDSU connected on just 7 of 26 second half shots (26.9 percent) as UNO rebuilt its lead in the final eight minutes.
Ryan Curtis' stuff shot, off a Graham feed, gave UNO the lead for good, 55-54, with 7:55 to play. That started a 9-0 run by the Mavericks , capped by a three-pointer by Calvin Kapels with 5:19 left to make the score 62-54.
SDSU hit just one field goal in the final 9:30 and the Mavericks hit nine of 12 free throws to seal the win.
The Mavericks, who shot 48.5 percent the first half, improved to 55.6 the second and to 51 percent for the game to SDSU's 34.5 percent.
The Jackrabbits had just one player score in double figures, Andy Moeller, who had 12 points.
Graham, who also scored 24 points in UNO's overtime win at South Dakota State in January, scored 15 Friday night in the second half. He hit 7 of 12 shots from the floor and was a perfect on eight from the line. He also added four assists.
The Mavericks have won North Central Conference titles in 1979 and 1984. UNO has finished second five times, the most recent in 2002 behind South Dakota State.
The Mavericks, who now own two wins over the 25-4, 9-4 Jackrabbits, can clinch the championship with a win or if SDSU loses Saturday night at South Dakota. The NCC winner will be the host of the NCC post-season tournament, the Wells Fargo Finals, March 5-6.
The Mavericks never trailed the first half and built a 40-31 lead at halftime with a 10-3 run to close the half over the last six minutes.
The Jackrabbits recovered early in the second half and finally claimed the lead with twice midway through, but suffered through poor shooting. SDSU connected on just 7 of 26 second half shots (26.9 percent) as UNO rebuilt its lead in the final eight minutes.
Ryan Curtis' stuff shot, off a Graham feed, gave UNO the lead for good, 55-54, with 7:55 to play. That started a 9-0 run by the Mavericks , capped by a three-pointer by Calvin Kapels with 5:19 left to make the score 62-54.
SDSU hit just one field goal in the final 9:30 and the Mavericks hit nine of 12 free throws to seal the win.
The Mavericks, who shot 48.5 percent the first half, improved to 55.6 the second and to 51 percent for the game to SDSU's 34.5 percent.
The Jackrabbits had just one player score in double figures, Andy Moeller, who had 12 points.
Graham, who also scored 24 points in UNO's overtime win at South Dakota State in January, scored 15 Friday night in the second half. He hit 7 of 12 shots from the floor and was a perfect on eight from the line. He also added four assists.
The Mavericks have won North Central Conference titles in 1979 and 1984. UNO has finished second five times, the most recent in 2002 behind South Dakota State.
Players Mentioned
Tuesday, September 01
Wednesday, August 26
Friday, August 21
Tuesday, April 21
