February 4, 2004
Seniors Lead Men's Cagers at Hays
Late Run Lifts Lopers over Rival
Kearney, NE – The 11th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team used a late 7-0 run to secure a 83-72 win at Fort Hays State Tuesday night in Kansas. The Lopers (18-2, 10-1 RMAC) have now won 13 of the last 16 games against the Tigers (12-7, 7-5 RMAC).
Much like the women's game, UNK led throughout but Hays hung around and them made a late push. Ahead 65-58 with 9:19 to play, the Lopers were outscored 9-2 over the next five minutes. Hays tied the game on two free throws by Dominque Townes with 4:26 left on the clock.
Junior Will Taukiuvea gave UNK the lead back with two free throws and then his baseline jumper pushed the lead to four. Then, senior guard Brian Duangan gave UNK a seven point lead when he made a three from the top of the key with 2:48 to play.
Hays wouldn't get closer than five points the rest of the way as the blue and gold made 9 of 10 free throws down the stretch.
The Lopers four seniors combined to score 57 points, led by Dunagan with a team-best 22. In playing all 40 minutes, he was 5 of 10 from the three point line. It also marked the third time this year Dunagan tallied 22 points in a game.
North Platte senior forward Nick Branting was just four assists shy of a triple double (21 points, 11 rebounds, six assists) while Grand Island senior point guard Chad Sheffield had 12 points and six assists.
Finally, Taukuivea was 9 of 9 at the line to tally en route to a 17-point night.
UNK had just nine turnovers in the contest while forcing 14. The Lopers also made 20 of 26 free throws while the Tigers were just 14 of 22 at the line.
Townes, who had a combined 51 points in two wins over UNK last year, had 16 of his team-high 21 points in the second half. Marques Woods and LaJuan Christon each had 11 while Terrell Young had 13 rebounds and nine points.
UNK plays Regis Saturday afternoon in Denver.
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Contact:
Peter Yazvac
yazvacpa@unk.edu |