February 22, 2008

Men's Basketball Wins Another Close One

Game Features 44 Fouls & 49 Free Throws

      Kearney, Neb. – Sophomore center Josiah Parker had career-highs in points and rebounds to lead the Nebraska-Kearney men's basketball team to a 73-67 win over Regis Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

      UNK (14-12) improves it's RMAC record to 12-6 and is now just a half game behind Colorado Christian for the East Division lead. The Cougars (13-6), who lost at Metro State Tuesday night, host Colorado Mines Saturday.

      In the race for a top four seed in the RMAC tournament, the Lopers lead Metro (11-7) by a half game and Adams (11-6) by one full game. Regis (13-13, 8-10 RMAC) loses its sixth in a row and is in danger of not making the RMAC eight-team tournament.

      Tonight's game could be called a "foul fest" as the Rangers were whistled for 27 fouls and the Lopers' 17. Four Regis players, including three starters, fouled out with another finishing with four. UNK saw starting point guard Garrett Lever last only 13 minutes before his fifth foul was called; two more UNK starters ended the night at four fouls as well.

      UNK took advantage of the closely called game by going to Parker early and often in the second half. A 6-9, 235 lbs. center from Lincoln, Parker scored 18 of UNK's 33 second half points and took half (12) of the team's second half field goals.

      Early in the second half, Parker managed to draw the fourth foul on Alex Potts, one of Regis' top post players, as well as Gary Street, the Rangers' reserve in the lane. Then, Parker got Kenny Howard of Grand Island to commit five fouls in a three minute span.

      All this helped UNK build  seemingly comfortable 53-38 lead by the 15 minute mark. However, the Lopers would go cold the next 10 minutes, scoring only six points. Mean while, Regis got hot and started to go inside to Geremy Gibson to rally back.

      The Rangers, after getting out rebounded 25-13 in the first half, also worked the glass hard, scoring 18 second chance points over the final 20 minutes. They finished the night with 12 offensive caroms, six coming from Street.

      A bucket by James Bulluck cut the UNK lead to two, 63-61, with 3:08 to play. After Drake Beranek hit one of two free throws and Bullock missed a shot, sophomore Jeff Martin hit a three pointer to quickly build the lead back to six points.

      Regis wouldn't get closer then four points the rest of the way.

      Parker finished with 24 points and 13 rebounds, besting a 23 and 12 effort vs. Adams State in January. Also blocking five shots, he went 9 of 19 from the field and made 6 of 11 free throws.

      UNK came in shooting 74 percent at the line but only made 61 percent (23 of 38) of it's free shots tonight.

      Beranek (Ravenna) had 18 points and 10 rebounds -- in the first half -- but didn't attempt a single shot in the second half. He did have five assists and four rebounds in the final 20 minutes and has now recorded 11 double doubles this season.

      In the second half, freshman Jeremy Cruise (St. Edward) hit a key three pointer and went 4 of 4 at the line to tally 11 for the night.

      For Regis, Gibson had 14 of his 19 points in the second half. He also led the team in rebounds (nine) and assists (four). Bulluck also had 19 in the game, 12 coming in the final half. Finally, Howard (G.I. Central Catholic) had four points and two blocks in eight minutes.

      Team wise, UNK held advantages in field goal shooting (45-37 percent) and rebounds (44-35) but the Rangers committed only nine turnovers to the Lopers' 16.

      UNK hosts Colorado Springs Saturday afternoon.