Missouri Western State Defeats UNK Men, 89-90

The Missouri Western State Griffons went 33 of 42 at the line, and grabbed a late offensive rebound, to beat Nebraska Kearney, 89-80, Saturday evening in St. Joseph.

The Griffons (13-6, 5-3) take the season series from the Lopers (9-10, 2-6) and move to 8-2 at home.

Coming into today, UNK's opponents average about 17 made freebies a game, but Mo West was much busier. Eight different Griffs made at least two shots at the line with the busiest being leading scorer Noah King (9 of 11). On the flip side, the Lopers went 14 of 19 at the charity stripe.

Trailing most of the day, UNK still had a chance after a three from senior point guard Ja'Bryant Hill (Dallas) made it 84-80 with 51 seconds left. Sophomore Gavin Hershberger missed the two subsequent free throws at the 39 second mark, but freshman guard Trey McKowen, son of head coach Brooks McKowen, was there for the offensive rebound. He knocked down his free shots to make it a two-possession game again.

"We wanted to keep the game in the 70's because they score the ball so well. But we had 27 fouls called on us, and I don't think that has happened to us since I've been the head coach," said UNK's Marty Levinson on the KRVIN radio post-game show. "To keep people off the line, you've got to move your feet. We tried to go zone to limit some of those fouls, but if you can't get after a good offensive team like that, they are really, really had to guard."

Previously at Kirkwood (Ia.) C.C. and Upper Iowa, King reached 2,000 points back in January at Buckle Court. He had a game-best 27 today thanks to 8 of 16 shooting (2 of 6 threes). Seven others were in the scoring column including VMI transfer Devin Butler (14).

UNK also had a balanced attack with four in double digits. That group was led by Hill (19) with both Anthony Swift (Las Vegas) and Wade Williams (Huntsville, Texas) a 16 apiece. Finally, senior Kendrick Gilbert (St. Louis) had 14 points with Swift grabbing 10 boards to record his third double double.

"We gave ourselves a chance to win. We didn't lay down, we continued to chase possessions late, but we've got to find a way not to foul," said Levinson. "The free throw line creates rhythm for shooters and that's why fouls are mistakes that accumulate. That's definitely what happened here."

A four-game home stand starts Thursday vs. Central Oklahoma (12-8, 5-3).