Kearney, Neb. – Junior guard Isaiah Watt scored 21 points and Chadron State hit five straight three pointers in the second half as part of a 91-72 win over Nebraska Kearney Tuesday night in Chadron.
CSC (1-3) earns its first win after three setbacks by a combined 12 points while the Lopers fall to 2-4. UNK is now off until a Dec. 1st (Thurs.) home game against Rogers State.
The Eagles never trailed but saw a 13-point first half lead whittled to four, 58-54, by the 9:56 mark. That’s when the long-range shots started to fall with junior Patrick McLachlan hitting the first of five straight threes and Wyatt making the last. That made the score 73-60 with 6:37 to play and UNK didn’t threaten after that.
“The three-point barrage kind of did us in. It was a workable margin (at that point of the game) with enough time. We tried to change it up with a zone but they made us pay,” said UNK head coach Kevin Lofton on the KRVN Radio post-game show. “When they got an open look, they hit it. Coming into the game they were a 32-percent three-point shooting team but they were at home and found a rhythm.”
CSC made half its shots (34 of 68) including an 11 of 19 effort from downtown. They also were plus 16 on the glass and got 36 bench points. Wyatt reached his total by going 6 of 9 (3 of 4 3’s) from the field and 6 of 6 at the line with reserve Bryce Latimer at 17 and starter MJ Foust at 11.
“We had to ride a couple of guys hard over the last couple of three or four games. Our guards have to give us a little bit more on the boards. They really took care of us pretty good there,” said Lofton. “Darrian did everything he could in the first half to put us in position but in the second half I thought it caught up to him a little bit.”
Utah super senior forward Darrian Nebeker tallied a game-high 24 points by going 11 of 24 (1 of 5 3’s) from the field. He also had 11 boards and drew four fouls with fellow starter Sean Evans (Parker, Colo.). at 14 points on 2 of 4 three shooting. Finally, New Zealand senior wing Matt Brien (nine) and Wahoo senior forward Winston Cook (10) combined for 19 points off the bench.
Lopers Lose On The Road To Chadron State
