Loper Men Win Thriller
Courtesy UNK Sports
Kearney, Neb. – Freshman guard D'Aundre Samuels made a layup with 40 seconds left and Western Colorado missed two baseline jumpers in the final 24 seconds as Nebraska Kearney toppled the Mountaineers, 76-75, Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
UNK (2-1) improves to 17-10 all-time vs. WCU (2-3) who has now played four games decided by a total of seven points.
"Our guys just fought. They were tough, they were gritty and I told them that's what they'll have to be for the whole year," said UNK interim head coach Antoine Young. "They are also getting better day by day and that's all I can ask of them."
The contest featured seven ties and 12 lead changes with each squad holding a nine-point lead. UNK's came early in the first half, 16-7, with WCU's leading 48-38 right after the break.
It was back-and-forth down the stretch with a jumper by junior guard Sean Evans (Parker, Colo.) making it 74-73 Lopers at 1:09 mark. WCU took the lead back after six-six senior guard Avery Rembao was fouled 22 seconds later. While he made both free throws, the "Neers finished just 11 of 19 at the line.
Soon after, Samuels (Denver East) easily beat his Western defender and got past the help to finish the scoring. After a timeout, Western went back to Rembao who had the hot hand in the second half (12 points). However, his contested 15-foot baseline jumper danced around the iron and into the hands of Evans. He was fouled quickly but the 'Neers had another to give and sent Samuels to the line with 13 seconds left.
He missed the one-and-one, setting up a final flurry where UNK almost got a turnover in the Western lane, but the ball ended up in the hands of freshman guard Xavier Harris. His 10-foot baseline jumper hit iron with two seconds to go and Samuels skyed high for the clinching board.
"D'Aundre is a huge talent, he understands the offense and knows when to pick his spots. He can rebound it at 6-4 and does a lot of things and he's just a freshman," said Young.
UNK out shot WCU by seven percentage points, 52-45, grabbed seven more boards, and had one fewer turnover. However, the Lopers were 7 of 13 at the line and hit five fewer treys than Western (8-3). Finally, the teams combined for 25 second chance points on 17 o-boards.
"Every game we must control the glass. If you can do that, and you're not turning it over, you'll give yourself a chance," said Young.
Samuels (15 points, six rebounds, five assists) and New Zealand junior forward Sean Murphy (15 points, 11 rebounds) paced UNK with Evans hitting 5 of 6 shot to tally 13. Samuels has been in double figures in each contest to date with Murphy recording his first career double double. Finally, starting point guard Miguel Robles (East L.A.) got close to a double double (nine points, seven rebounds) as well.
"Sean has been our rock. When I talk about tough, the gritty, the 50-50 balls … he's done that. He's the example to the younger guys to kind of follow suit," said Young. "He's been exceptional for us so far."
For WCU, Rembao had a team-high 19 points on 6 of 13 (3 of 6 threes) shooting with fellow starter Kade Juelfs having similar numbers; 17 on 6 of 10 (3 of 7 threes). Harris was big off the bench in the first half where he tallied all of his 14 points with fellow reserve Jamel Hollins close to a double double (seven rebounds, six points).
The Lopers head to Wayne State (6-0) Saturday at 3 p.m.
