June 24, 2003

Men’s Basketball Leads Nation in Attendance

Lopers Outdraw Nearly 200 Division I Schools

            Kearney, NE – One of the best seasons in Nebraska-Kearney men’s basketball history helped the Lopers lead the nation in attendance for the 2002-03 season. The Lopers average of 3,839 fans topped all of NCAA Division II and is also better than 187 Division I schools.

             On the women’s side, UNK ranked seventh in the nation at 1,855 per game. That also ranks as the 64^th highest average in Division I, putting the Lopers ahead of such schools as Kentucky, Florida, Pittsburgh, Michigan and Louisville. 

            Doing well in attendance is nothing new for the Lopers. Volleyball has led the nation in attendance in eight of the past nine years while football and both basketball teams are routinely in the top 15 every year.

              For the men’s basketball team, their 19 home dates drew 72,950 fans to the Health & Sports Center. Hosting the North Central Regional might have put UNK over the top as the three games drew a little over 15,00 fans, an average of 5,072 per night. The team’s season average was also more than tripled the RMAC average of 1,080 per game.

            Among the Division I schools the UNK men outdrew were Miami (Fla.), Washington State, Rice, SMU, Tulane and Southern Mississippi. 

            For the women, the Lopers average was also more than tripled the RMAC average of 556 per game. 

 2002-03 Men’s Basketball Div. II Attendance Leaders

2002-03 Women’s Basketball Div. II Attendance Leaders