UCM Reserve Scores 32, Helps Mules Rally Past the Loper Men
Photo Credit: UNK Athletics
Kearney, Neb. – Redshirt senior reserve forward Keith Kiner III erupted for 32 points to help Central Missouri rally from 15 down in the second half to beat Nebraska Kearney, 76-73, Saturday evening at the Health & Sports Center.
The Mules, led by Kimball native and former ‘Husker Adam Bohac, have now won four of the last five meetings with the Lopers.
UNK (5-8, 2-6) led for 32 minutes, went 15 of 32 (47%) from behind the arc, held a 16-point lead late in the first half and 15-point lead with 17:11 to play. However, the triples didn’t drop over the last 10 minutes with Kiner III and the Mules (6-6, 1-5) dominating inside to the tune of 40 paint points.
“We did some good things in the first half and maybe the first 12 minutes in the second,” said UNK interim head coach Antoine Young. “And then we went back to what we’ve been … not guarding, turning it over and that usually gets you beat.”
For the second straight game, points off turnovers was big for the opposition as UCM tallied 21 off 13 UNK miscues. In a Thursday night loss to Lincoln, 16 turnovers led to 28 Blue Tiger points.
“You’re going to miss some threes but when we were up by 12 or so, we go and miss five shots right at the rim,” said Young. “If can’t make layups, you’re going to turn it over and you’re not going to rebound, it’s going to be hard to win.”
UCM closed the first half on a 7-0 run to trail by nine and then erased that 15-point second half deficit by the 3:26 mark. Two offensive rebounds by Kiner III led to two free throws and a 66-66 tie. Just prior, the Lopers were up 60-52.
A three from junior wing Taden King (Rexburg, Idaho) made it 73-72 with 1:36 to play but junior guard Jalen Knott quickly responded with a layup. After a left wing three from junior guard Miguel Robles (East L.A.) didn’t drop, the Mules moved ahead by two thanks to a 1 for 2 effort at the line with 24 seconds remaining. UNK had a chance to win it but a contested three by junior guard Sean Evans (Parker, Colo.) didn’t drop with 11 ticks left. The Mule sunk another free throw to complete the scoring and then fouled the Lopers before they could get a three off. A subsequent freebie was missed and UCM grabbed the board.
Previously at Division I Niagara (N.Y.), Kiner III went 14 of 17 (1 of 1 threes) from the field in just 26 minutes of work. His 17 first-half points helped counter nine triples by the Lopers. Kiner III also had eight rebounds (four offensive), four steals and three assists. The 6-6, 200-pounder started the week averaging 9.7 points per game.
“He got himself going. There are good players in this league and once they get yourself going, they end up having a game,” said Young.
Also for the Mules, Knott had 18 points thanks to 10 for 10 free throw shooting with guard Jordan Hayes at 12 points and four assists. Finally, reserve forward Tim Jordan Jr. had eight points in 19 minutes.
For UNK, Evans went 5 of 10 from downtown to tally a team-high 19 points. In his first collegiate start, guard D’Aundre Samules (Denver) had 17 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and three thefts with King having three triples, four assists and 13 points. Finally, Robles had three triples to score 10 off the bench.
“I thought we needed to change some things up and I liked how things went for the most part,” said Young. “D’Aundre had 10 boards and that’s what we needed. I liked what he did but, as a freshman, he’s going to make mistakes and we’ll have to live with some of those things.”
UNK heads to Pittsburg State (7-5, 3-3) and Missouri Southern (5-8, 3-4) next weekend.
