First-half rally lifts Wayne State men over UNK
WAYNE — Five players scored in double figures to help Wayne State beat the University of Nebraska at Kearney, 95-68, Saturday evening in Wayne.
UNK held early leads of 8-2 and 21-20 but it was all Wayne State after that. The Wildcats (7-0) went on a 17-4 run to open a 37-25 advantage and then closed the half on a 12-0 spurt. After giving up 57 first-half points, the Lopers lost the second by only a 38-35 margin.
"We started off decently but from there we didn't play well. Our offense wasn't crisp, we didn't get out and run like we wanted to, and we were stagnant," UNK interim head coach Antoine Young said on the KRVN radio postgame show. "They also got all the 50-50 balls and offensive rebounds."
The Lopers came in averaging 90 points per game on 56% shooting from the field. Wayne, meanwhile, was allowing just 52 points per game and holding opponents to 34% shooting. They won that battle Saturday, limiting UNK to 41% from the floor while being plus-6 on the glass and having a plus-7 turnover margin.
"When you're losing the 50-50 balls and offensive rebounds, it kills you. Defensively, we've got to be spot on, regardless if we're scoring or not," Young said. "Tonight, we had a lull where our defense was dictated by not getting easy buckets. At home, I told them we we're the tougher team but tonight they were. You must be the tougher team every night."
Starting point guard Miguel Robles led UNK with 13 points. Junior wing Taden King added 10 points with junior guard Sean Evans hitting two 3-pointers to tally 10 as well.
Wayne scored 23 points off UNK turnovers and made 52% of its shots.
"I think our non-con has prepared us for what's coming. We've played number 23 (Southern Nazarene) on the road, Chadron will probably win 20 games and Western Colorado should finish in the middle of the pack in the RMAC," Young said. "And Wayne might win the South Division of the NSIC."
UNK heads to Rogers State (1-2) and Northeastern State (4-1) next weekend to begin MIAA play.
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