January 30, 2004

Men's Basketball Beats No. 1 CCU

North Platte Seniors Lead the Way

            Kearney, NE – The Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team got a combined 56 points from North Platte seniors Nick Branting (31) and Jacob Mohs (25) to win at No. 19 Colorado Christian, 101-93, Friday night in Lakewood, Colo.

            The Lopers (16-2, 8-2 RMAC) win ends the Cougars' 16 game winning streak, which was tied for the longest in Division II. CCU (16-2, 9-1 RMAC) was also the top ranked team in the North Central Region rankings, the poll which determines what eight teams make the NCAA's in March. UNK was fifth in the region.

             UNK led for the last 35 minutes of the game but CCU, which shot 62 percent in the second half and forced 26 Loper turnovers on the night, more than hung around.

            The Cougars cut a 16 point Loper second half lead down to four, 95-51, with 13 seconds left after back-to-back threes by guard Matt Vaughn. But, the Lopers, the top free throw shooting team in the RMAC, managed to hit all six free shots they attempted in the final 13 seconds to end a miracle comeback effort. 

            An up tempo game throughout, the second half was plagued by fouls. The two teams combined for 52 fouls and 66 free throws on the night. Four players fouled out with three others having four fouls each.

            Branting fouled out with around five minutes left in the game. He had 23 first half points and sunk 15 of 16 free throws for the game to tally his fourth 30 point game of the season.

            Branting also had eight rebounds, helping the blue and gold out rebound a much taller CCU team by 10, 39-29. UNK also was strong at the line (33 of 42) while CCU struggled, making just 14 of 24 shots.

            Mohs, who came into the game second in the RMAC in three point percentage (53.3), had 14 first half points on 4 of 4 shooting from the three point line. He hit two more triples in the second half to have his best game as a Loper.

            Also for the Lopers, guard Brian Dunagan had 16 points while backcourt mate Chad Sheffield had a team-high 10 rebounds. Each handed out four assists as well.

            Vaughn, the third leading scorer in the RMAC, made 6 of 9 three point shots to score 26 points. He also had four steals and four assists. Post player Brent Hobba led CCU with a double double (29 points, 12 rebounds).

            UNK is at Colorado School of Mines Saturday night at 9:00 p.m. CST.