UNK MBB: Lopers Fall To Central Oklahoma

Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt junior guard Jaden Wells went for 23 points, and freshman forward Jarreth Ingram had 21 points off the bench, to help Central Oklahoma down Nebraska Kearney, 87-68, Thursday night at the Health & Sports Center.

UCO (17-7, 9-7), who was ranked in the Top 10 earlier this year, sweeps the season series from the Lopers and has now won nine straight in the series.

Facing one of the tallest and longest teams in the MIAA, the short-handed Lopers – minus leading scorer Damri Lindo (Oakland) due to injury -- didn't go quietly as they won the rebounding battle (31-30), were aggressive on defense and got a career-high 30 points from super senior forward Winston Cook (Wahoo). UNK trailed by just 10 at the break and had a chance to make it a 12-point game with four minutes left but missed a fast-break three.

"Tonight, we decided we had to live with certain things. They are big so we challenged our guards and forwards that by each media timeout, they need to have three or four rebounds," said UNK interim head coach Antoine Young. "If we could rebound by committee, we could survive their size."

One of the top players in the league, Wells made 7 of 14 shots (1 of 5 threes) and all eight free throws he attempted. The 'Chos finished 16 of 22 at the line with UNK having the first nine fouls of the night.

"That's an all-league guy. He could go into several Division I leagues and play for any team," said Young. "We tried to make things tough on him and limit his touches as much as we could."

UCO started two 6-10 forwards, brought two 6-7 forwards off the bench with Ingram standing 6-8. He didn't miss from the field (7 of 7) and only once at the line (5of 6) to reach his total in 24 minutes. As a team, the 'Chos made 59% of its shots including an efficient 9 of 17 from downtown. Meanwhile, UNK was just 5 of 27 from the arc.

UNK had six players between three and six points in the first half with junior Taden King (Rexburg, Idaho) at four assists. Wells had 13 of his team's 39 points as UCO was plus eight on the glass. After the break, Cook carried the Lopers to the tune of 24 points. He made 10 of 12 shots and went 4 of 4 at the line to best his previous career-high point total by eight. In his 96th career game, Cook also added four o-boards and went all 40 minutes.

"You've got to let Winston be Winston. Not just his scoring but he also was out there battling defensively and was on the boards," said Young.

Next, junior forward Sean Murphy (New Zealand) had 14 points, seven boards and three steals with junior reserve wing Tom Connelly (Denver) knocking down two threes. Finally, freshman guard D'Aundre Samuels (Denver) had five points, four assists and four boards.

"I just want to see our guy's battle like this. If we do that, we'll be fine. We've been through a lot this year so for them to still be battling like they did tonight … I commend them for that," said Young. 

The Lopers host Newman on Saturday afternoon. The Jets (6-15, 3-13) lost at Fort Hays State tonight, 66-45.