December 14, 2004

Men’s Basketball Tames Tigers

Levinson Remains Hot

            Kearney, Neb. –   Five players were in double figures to lead the Nebraska-Kearney men’s basketball team to an 87-62 rout of Doane College Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.

            The Lopers have won five straight games after an 0-2 start. Doane has dropped four in a row and is now 6-6 on the year.

            UNK dominated throughout, shooting 61 percent from the field in the first half and 53 percent (33 of 62) for the game. The bigger Lopers also tallied 50 points in the pain and out rebounded the NAIA Tigers, 50-39.

            Doane came in averaging 80.4 points per game but shot only 29 percent from the floor (20 of 68) on the night. The cold shooting wasted the Tigers’ 19 offensive rebounds, including five from Adam Schueth. 

            With the Tigers shooting 29 percent from the three point line on the year, the Lopers played a zone defense and Doane promptly missed its first 15 three point attempts and sunk only 4 of 23 attempts for the game.

            Junior forward Chris Dean (LaVerne, Calif.) scored 12 of his game-high 16 points in the first half. He also grabbed six rebounds in 23 minutes of work.

            Dean is the only Loper to have scored in double digits in all seven games this year.

             Bellevue senior Marty Levinson continued his hot shooting, making 3 of 4 three point attempts to finish with 15 points.

            In the last three games, Levinson has scored 56 points (18.6 ppg) and made 13 threes.  

            Also, senior Will Taukiuvea (Salt Lake City, Utah) scored 14 points while Columbus sophomore Dusty Jura recorded his second double double (14 points, 11 rebounds) of the year.

            Finally, Ogallala freshman Nick Morrell (10 points, four rebounds) had another strong game off the bench.

            Michael Stoynev, scoring 21.8 points per game on the year, led Doane with 14 points.

            UNK travels to Western State and Mesa State this weekend.