February 14, 2004

Men's Basketball Stronger Than 'Diggers

Orediggers Push Lopers 

            Kearney, NE – Utah junior Will Taukiuvea scored 28 points, two shy of his career high, to lead the 8^th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team to an 98-80 win over Colorado School of Mines Saturday night at the Health Sports Center.

            It was a matcuhp of the Lopers (21-2, 13-2 RMAC) superior post game vs. Mines' (5-18, 2-13 RMAC) three point bombers. The 'Diggers hit seven of its first 10 three point shots to hang around until early in the second half when its post players, all freshmen, got into foul trouble and succumbed to the Lopers.

            UNK out scored Mines 50-14 in the paint and out rebounded the Orediggers by 14. UNK also scored 25 points off 17 turnovers.

            Taukiuvea, who had 30 points at Wayne State earlier this year, hit 10 of 13 shots, including a 4 of 7 effort from the three point line. He played 28 minutes and also grabbad six rebounds.

            North Platte senior Nick Branting chipped in with 23 points and five rebounds in 33 minutes of work while Columbus redshirt freshman Dusty Jura had a double double (15 points, 12 rebounds), along with four assists and three steals.

            On the perimeter, Grand Island senior Brian Dunagan had 11 points and six assists.

            The Lopers led by nine early but Stephen Bahl (15 first half points) and Co. came back to lead 33-30 late in the first half. UNK finished the half on a 15-4 run, highlighted by 5 for 5 shooting at the line.

            Mines got the lead down to five, 51-46, with 17:41 to go but the Lopers responded with an 18-1 run over the next five minutes to seal the deal.

            Bahl finished with 29 points on 8 of 13 shooting from the field. Fellow guard Matt Luedtke had 19 points on five threes while Davey Iverson had 13 points and five rebounds.

            Mines' was 14 of 27 from the three point line (51.9) and 11 of 29 (37.9) inside the arc.