February 6, 2005

Men's Basketball Wins in OT

Lopers Rally from 12 Down

            Kearney, Neb. –  Junior Chris Dean scored a career-high 25 points and hit a three pointer late in regulation to lead the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team to a come from behind 98-91 overtime win over Colorado School of Mines Saturday night in Golden.

            This was the Orediggers first home loss of the year (12-1). UNK (17-4, 11-2 RMAC) wins its fifth straight while Mines sees its losing streak go to four games (13-7, 7-6 RMAC).

            UNK out scored Mines 18-6 in the last 5:47 of regulation, capped by a Dean (LaVerne, Calif.) three pointer with 10 seconds to go that tied the game at 74.

            Mines had a chance to win it by senior guard Kevin Wagstaff missed a jumper at the buzzer.

            The triple by Dean was just his fourth of the year and the tying shot came after Mines went 1 for 2 at the line with 22 seconds to go.

            UNK dominated the extra session, getting out to a 82-77 lead thanks to six straight from Dean. A three by Colorado sophomore Chad Burger (nine points, six rebounds) put the Lopers up by seven, 86-79, with 1:35 to go.

            But, like the night before when Colorado Christian made three threes in the final 50 seconds, Mines didn't go down easily. The 'Diggers made triples in the final 44 seconds to make the Lopers secure the game at the line, which they did.

            UNK sunk 9 of 10 free throws, including a 6 for 6 effort by Colorado sophomore James Lane.

            Dean, whose previous career best was 24 vs. UNO, was 9 of 15 from the field and 6 of 7 at the line. He added five rebounds in 30 minutes work.

            Before fouling out late in regulation, Columbus sophomore Dusty Jura had his fifth double dobule (20 points, 10 rebounds) of the year. The lefty also had four assists and three steals in 32 minutes.

            A night after going for a season-high 18 points at CCU, Lane had 17 points and four assists. Finally Bellevue senior Marty Levinson had 14 points and a team-high six assists.

            Mines had a slight edge in field goal percentage, 49.3 to 48.6, and out rebounded the Lopers, 42-38. However, the 'Diggers struggled at the line (14 of 28) and had 16 turnovers, compared to just seven for UNK.

            To get into overtime, UNK forced Mines to go 1 of 6 from the field in the final 5:47, in addition to a turnover that led to a layup by Levinson. Mines could've closed the Lopers out at the line but went 1 of 4 in the final 1:21.

            Senior guard Stephen Bahl, the nation's seventh leading scorer, had 19 points after  halftime to finish with a team-high 24. Wagstaff added 18 and freshman post Ben Mohr went for 15.

            UNK is at Metro State and Regis next weekend.