February 18, 2005

Defense Keys Men's Basketball Win

Lopers Win Slugfest

            Kearney, Neb. –   Senior Will Taukiuvea had another big game and the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team shut down one of the nation's best scorers in a 84-70 win over Colorado School of Mines Friday night at the Health & Sports Center.

            The Lopers (19-5) improve to 13-3 in league play while the Orediggers (16-9, 10-7 RMAC) fall to 1-7 in road games.

            In what can only be descried as a slugfest -- they were 43 fouls called and 52 free throws attempted -- UNK used a late surge to pull away from a Mines team looking for its second all-time win over the Lopers.

            UNK led 60-54 with 9:32 to go after Mines went 1 for 2 at the line. The Lopers tallied the next nine points, five coming courtesy of Taukiuvea.

            Now ahead 15 with just under seven minutes to go, the Lopers wouldn't led Mines get closer then 12 points the rest of the way.

            After scoring a season-high 29 points last Saturday at Regis, Taukiuvea (Salt Lake City, Utah) scored 21 tonight on 9 of 14 shooting from the field.

            He also had five boards, four steals and three assists in 31 minutes.

            His performance was important because, for the second straight game, the Lopers post trio of junior Chris Dean (LaVerne, Calif.) and sophomores Dusty Jura (Columbus) and Chad Burger (Colo. Springs, Colo.) was in foul trouble all night long.

            Burger fouled out in the second half while Dean and Jura each collected four fouls during the game.

            Jura still managed to record his sixth double doube of the year (18 points, 10 rebounds) while Dean and Burger combined for 15 points and nine rebounds.

            Belleuve senior Marty Levinson had another big night on offense -- 17 points and seven assists -- but it was his defense that stood out.

            For most of the night, Levinson hounded Mines' senior guard Stephen Bahl, the nation's sixth leading scorer at 23.4 points per game.

            Bahl managed to get just five shots off and ended with a quiet eight points.

            Backcourt mate Kevin Wagstaff, averaging 18 points per game, was held to seven points and six shots by sophomore James Lane (Colorado Springs) and several other Lopers.

            Post player Ben Mohr led Mines with 21 points and seven rebounds with Franklin Ryk chipping in 14 points.

            The 'Diggers really hurt itself at the line (16 of 32) while UNK managed to score 52 of its points in the paint.

            Colorado Christian visits tomorrow night.