January 28, 2005

Men's Basketball Wins Tough One

Lopers Stave Off Regis

            Kearney, Neb. –  Bellevue senior Marty Levinson scored a career-high 25 points to lead the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team to a hard fought 80-68 win over the Regis Rangers Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

            UNK (13-4, 8-2 RMAC) has won 12 in a row over Regis (11-8, 4-7 RMAC) to lead the all-time series, 18-5.

            Levinson and Columbus sophomore Dusty Jura combined for 29 second half points as the Lopers overcame a Ranger team that sunk 7 of 9 threes in the final 20 minutes.

            Jura finished with 18 points on 6 of 9 shooting from the field while also adding three steals. Levinson, who had 23 points in an overtime loss to Fort Lewis earlier this year, was 9 of 12 from the field, including a 3 for 4 effort from downtown.

            Both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor but the Lopers had the advantage on the glass, 31-25, made 18 more free throws and scored 24 points off 17 Regis turnovers.

            UNK led the entire second half but the Rangers never allowed the lead to get more then 12 points thanks to its strong perimeter game.

            Jay Goral came off the bench to score all nine of his points after the break while Slade Bigelow scored a team-high 15 points on 5 of 8 three point shooting.

            UNK led by just a 59-56 count with 6:14 to play after Goral's third three of the half. The Lopers promptly scored the next six points, four coming from Levinson, to go ahead by nine.

            Regis never got closer then seven points in the final four minutes.

            Also for UNK, California junior Chris Dean had 13 points and eight boards, Utah senior Will Taukiuvea had 11 points (7 of 8 free throw shooting) and Colorado sophomore Chad Burger added 11 points and five rebounds off the bench.

            Jason Deich led the Rangers post game with 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.