December 31, 2003

Men’s Basketball Rolls by Hastings

Lopers Perfect in November-December Again

            Kearney, NE – North Platte senior Nick Branting had 22 points and Omaha junior Cameron Lollar had a season-high 20 points off the bench to lead the 9^th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney men’s basketball team to a 101-70 win at Hastings Tuesday night. UNK (8-0) remains perfect on the year while the NAIA Broncos fall to 6-9.

            All nine Lopers who suited up scored with each playing at least 14 minutes. The win allowed UNK to go unbeaten in November and December for the second straight year.

            The team hasn’t lost a game in the first two months of the season since an 81-73 setback at UNO on December 4, 2001, a stretch of 21 games. 

            UNK jumped out to a 10-4 lead and never looked back, shooting 63 percent in the first half while holding the Broncos to a 37 percent effort in the first 20 minutes. Ahead by 21 at the break, the Lopers finished the game at a season-high 56.1 percent from the floor and were again solid at the line (21 of 25).

            Branting sunk 9 of 10 shots from the floor to amass his 22 points in just 18 minutes of work while Lollar made 6 of 8 field goals and went 7 for 8 at the free throw line to have his best offensive game as a Loper.

            Also for UNK, North Platte senior Jacob Mohs (12 points, eight rebounds) had the most productive game of his career and Columbus redshirt freshman Dusty Jura had 17 points and six rebounds in 30 minutes.

            Brad Toepfer led Hastings with 11 points.

            UNK hosts Colorado State-Pueblo and New Mexico Highlands this weekend.