February 26, 2004

Branting Has Another Big Night

Lopers Win at Rival Chadron State

            Kearney, NE – North Platte senior forward Nick Branting had 17 of his team-high 23 points in the second half to lead the 5^th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team to a 87-68 win at Chadron State Thursday night in Chadron.

            The win allows UNK (24-2, 16-2 RMAC) to keep pace with Metro State and South Dakota State in the race for the top spot in the North Central Region.

            It also is the Lopers 10^th straight victory and marked the 100^th career win for UNK's four seniors.

            Chadron State falls to 8-18 and in 4-14 in the RMAC.

            UNK led for most of the night, including a 44-33 edge at halftime. After UNK pushed its lead to 17 early in the second half, Chadron trailed by nine, 62-53, with exactly 10 minutes to play.

            That's when Branting took over, scoring nine straight points in just under three minutes to put the Loper lead back to 16 points at 71-55.CSC wouldn't get closer than 13 points the rest of the way.

            In a fairly even game statistically, UNK held a big edge in turnovers, tallying 25 points off 22 Eagle miscues.

            Branting, who was 8 of 14 from the floor, also had 10 rebounds to register his sixth double double of the year. Columbus freshman Dusty Jura had his fifth double double of 2003-04, scoring 20 points, two off his season high, and grabbing a team best 11 rebounds.

            With seven points tonight, Grand Island senior Brian Dunagan just missed joining the 1,000 club by two points. He did tally a season-high nine assists. 

            Finally, Utah junior Will Taukiuvea had 15 points, five rebounds and five steals.

            Darnell Williams led the Eagles with 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Grand Island senior Jeremy Wissing had 15 points.

            UNK plays at No. 1 Metro State Saturday night.