Kearney, Neb. – Seniors Austin Luger and Jake Walker represent Nebraska-Kearney on the 2020-21 All-MIAA men’s basketball team. The league’s head coaches vote on the makeup of the team and cannot vote for their own players. Luger (Alliance) and Walker (Centerville, Utah) received honorable mention accolades, the first All-MIAA honor for both. They are also taking advantage of the “free eligibility year” and returning to UNK next winter. Walker led the Lopers in scoring (14.6), threes made (41), and free throw percentage (87.3). Missing a total of five games, Walker was in double digits 13 times including four 20-point efforts. He went for a career-high 30 in a win at Pittsburg State in January. Finally, the Snow (Utah) College product has tallied 617 points on 115 made threes in his two-year Loper career.
Also battling some ailments and missing the first two games of the season, Luger came in at 13.8 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.9 steals a night. He led the team in blocks (12) and rebounding average, was second in scoring and FT pct. (80.9) and third in threes (31). The forward had two double doubles and has 583 points to date. Defending national champion Northwest Missouri State picked up the Player of the Year (Trevor Hudgins), the Defensive Player of the Year (Diego Bernard), and Coach of the Year (Ben McCollum) awards. Finally, Fort Hays State guard Kaleb Hammeke was named the league’s top freshman. UNK went 8-14 this year, earning two wins over Central Missouri, a home win vs. Hays and playing 13 games decided by eight points or less.
