UNK Men Fall at Southern Nazarene 83-81

Senior transfer Benno Zecic hit a free throw line jumper with 18 seconds left, and sophomore transfer Cam Slaymaker added 26 points, to lift No. 23 Southern Nazarene over Nebraska Kearney, 83-81, Friday night in Bethany, Okla.

This was the opening night for both teams. UNK hosts Chadron State (Nov. 18) to begin a three-game homestand. The Lopers were minus two starters and a key reserve tonight due to injury; they'll all be back in the coming weeks.

Leading for nearly 34 minutes and by as many as nine points, the Lopers had a chance to win in it but a corner three from junior lefty wing Taden King (Rexburg, Idaho) didn't fall. UNK was up 66-57 by the 10:58 mark but the new-look Strom closed strong.

They tied things up at 72 on two free throws from Division I transfer Jaxson Edelmeyer. Action was back and forth after that but Zecic, formerly of Idaho State and Division II Texas-Tyler, got hot late. He hit 7 of 11 shots while adding seven assists with Slaymaker, previously at D1 Cal State Northridge, sinking 11 of 13 freebies. The Storm was 24 of 35 at the line; the Lopers 10 of 14.

Junior point guard Miguel Robles (East L.A. ) paced Kearney with 24 points on 8 of 12 shooting (4 of 7 threes). He also didn't commit a turnover in nearly 33 minutes of work. Next, New Zealand junior forward Sean Murphy had a career-high 18 points and nine boards thanks to 8 of 10 shooting. Finally, Colorado freshman guard D'Aundre Samuels had eight points, five boards and three dimes.