March 8, 2008

Men's Basketball Falls in RMAC Semifinals

Season Likely Over; Lever Sets Steal Record

     Kearney, Neb. – Senior forward Brian Stamer scored 40 points and grabbed 21 rebounds to lead the Colorado Christian men's basketball team to a 78-68 win over Nebraska-Kearney Friday night in the RMAC Tournament semifinals in Pueblo, Colo.

      The third-seeded Cougars (19-11) advance to the finals Saturday night where they'll face top-seed and 16th-ranked Fort Lewis (23-5). The Skyhawks beat fourth-seed Western New Mexico, 90-66, in today's early game.

      For UNK (16-13), today's loss will likely end the 2007-08 season. The Lopers, currently ranked ninth in the North Central Region, were hoping to earn a seventh straight bid to the NCAA Tournament. The 64-team Division II field will be announced Sunday night at around 9:30 p.m.

      The 2008 RMAC Player of the Year, Stamer had a double double by half time (19 points, 14 rebounds) and finished 16 of 24 from the field and went 8 of 11 at the line. His rebound total, which included 17 on the defensive end, sets a new RMAC Tournament record.

      While UNK beat Christian twice during the regular season, it never stopped Stamer. He had 26 points in both setbacks and finished the year shooting 61 percent (39 of 64) vs. the Lopers.

      Finally, Stamer's record-setting effort also helps the Cougars end an 18-game losing streak to UNK, which dated back to the 1999-00 season.

      UNK trailed by just a 17-12 score at the 9:38 mark of the first half but Christian hit four three pointers down the stretch to open up a 14-point cushion, 38-24, by halftime.

      One of the top three point shooting teams in the RMAC, CCU was only 6 of 31 from the arc against UNK during the regular season. In the second half tonight, the Cougars missed all six three point shots it took.

      The Lopers, who sunk 26 threes in its last two games, were also cold from the perimeter, going 4 of 15. 

      Despite Stamer and the three point troubles, UNK still mounted a second half comeback. Getting the ball inside to sophomore Josiah Parker (Lincoln) on four straight possessions, the Lopers cut the deficit to eight, 47-39, with 14:21 to play.

      But, a three point play from Stamer stopped the momentum and then neither team scored for over two minutes. In the final 10 minutes of the game, UNK could only cut the deficit down to seven.

      Before fouling out, Ravenna sophomore Drake Beranek grabbed five offensive rebounds and scored a team-high 18 points on 8 of 19 shooting (2 of 4 threes).

      Parker, fouling out as well, grabbed a team-high eight rebounds scored 17 points and blocked two shots. Also, Bellevue sophomore Jeff Martin scored seven of his 13 points in the final 2:25 with Arizona freshman Garrett Lever playing all 40 minutes and supplying 14 points and seven rebounds.

      Lever also had four steals, giving him an even 90 for the season. That breaks the school record of 89, set by Mike Hancock in 1995-96. For most of the year, Lever has led Division II in steals per game (3.6).

      UNK shot just 40.3 percent tonight (29 of 72) with Christian at a solid 50.9 percent (28 of 55). The Cougars also had a plus three rebounding margin and sunk 11 more free throws then the Lopers.

      Besides Stamer, Peter Bailley scored 12 points off the bench for CCU and Rory Morgan added 11 points and six rebounds. Pictured below are Beranek-Parker-Lever.