UNO Nabs Key NCC Win over Minnesota State
Feb 12, 2005 | Men's Basketball
No. 12 UNO held No. 4 Minnesota State to just two field goals over the final seven minutes to pull away for a 70-58 victory Saturday night in front of 2,500 at Lee & Helene Sapp Fieldhouse and move back into first place in the North Central Conference.
The Mavs are tied with North Dakota atop the NCC race with three games remaining for each team.
Abdul Mills scored 15 points and Ryan Curtis added 14 points and nine rebounds to lead the Mavericks to the 20-win plateau for the fourth straight season under Coach Kevin McKenna. UNO is now 20-4 on the season and 6-3 in the NCC. MSU, in losing its third straight game, fell to 19-5 and 5-4.
UNO emerged from a first half that featured six ties and three lead changes to hold a 31-29 halftime lead and led most of the second half, expanding the edge to as many as eight, 48-40, with 12:40 to play.
But MSU rallied with a 10-2 run to tie the game. Jamel Staten hit a short jumper in the lane and Joe Williams followed with a layup with 7:17 left before Tony Thomason's two free throws knotted the score at 52 with 6:29 to play.
UNO surged out front quickly as Randy Bland answered with a three-pointer, Chris DeSpain followed with a tip-in and Abdul Mills scored on a layup to put the Mavs up by 59-52 with 4:53 to play.
MSU's Williams and UNO's Andre Tarpley traded baskets before Rueben Trotter pulled MSU within 61-56 with 3:07 to play. UNO shut MSU out from the field the rest of the way, however, and Mills converted five of six shots from the foul line to secure the win.
Luke Anderson led Minnesota State with 20 points and seven rebounds and Trotter added 12 points.
The same two teams will close the regular season in Mankato on February 26.
UNO is next in action on Saturday, Feb. 19 when it hosts Minnesota Duluth at 8 p.m.
The Mavs are tied with North Dakota atop the NCC race with three games remaining for each team.
Abdul Mills scored 15 points and Ryan Curtis added 14 points and nine rebounds to lead the Mavericks to the 20-win plateau for the fourth straight season under Coach Kevin McKenna. UNO is now 20-4 on the season and 6-3 in the NCC. MSU, in losing its third straight game, fell to 19-5 and 5-4.
UNO emerged from a first half that featured six ties and three lead changes to hold a 31-29 halftime lead and led most of the second half, expanding the edge to as many as eight, 48-40, with 12:40 to play.
But MSU rallied with a 10-2 run to tie the game. Jamel Staten hit a short jumper in the lane and Joe Williams followed with a layup with 7:17 left before Tony Thomason's two free throws knotted the score at 52 with 6:29 to play.
UNO surged out front quickly as Randy Bland answered with a three-pointer, Chris DeSpain followed with a tip-in and Abdul Mills scored on a layup to put the Mavs up by 59-52 with 4:53 to play.
MSU's Williams and UNO's Andre Tarpley traded baskets before Rueben Trotter pulled MSU within 61-56 with 3:07 to play. UNO shut MSU out from the field the rest of the way, however, and Mills converted five of six shots from the foul line to secure the win.
Luke Anderson led Minnesota State with 20 points and seven rebounds and Trotter added 12 points.
The same two teams will close the regular season in Mankato on February 26.
UNO is next in action on Saturday, Feb. 19 when it hosts Minnesota Duluth at 8 p.m.
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