By: Con Marshall
CSC Sports Information
Two hot-shooting men’s basketball teams matched up Saturday afternoon in Kearney. While the Chadron State Eagles led nearly all the way during the first 30 minutes, including 55-51 at halftime, the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers went ahead with seven minutes left to play and won 113-101.
The hosts won the scoring battle 20-9 during the stretch run, to give their brand new head coach, Antoine Young, a victory.
Young, an assistant the past six years, was appointed to the head job on an interim basis the previous day after Kevin Lofton, who had been either the co-head coach or the head coach the past 18 seasons, resigned effective immediately.
The Eagles shot 58% from the field, making 39 of their 70 field goal shots, including 11 of 25 three-pointers. But Kearney made 66% of its field attempts, hitting 48 of 73, that included 12 of 22 from behind the arc.
Six Lopers scored in double figures, led by Sean Evans and D’Aundre Samuels with 21 apiece. Taden King added 18, Miguel Robles 15 and both Ryder Kirsch and Bryson Goldsmith 12.
Evans was the only one of the six who played at Chadron a year ago, when the Eagles won 91-72.
Chadron State guard Bryce Latimer was the game’s top scorer with 25 points and also had a game-high eight assists. He was followed by center Porter Anderson with 20 points on eight of nine shooting. Forward Josh Robinson chipped in 17 points and Jarrett Taylor scored 14.
Anderson was the game’s top rebounder with eight, but Kearney outrebounded the Eagles 32-26. Chadron State had just seven turnovers, three fewer than the Lopers, but Kearney scored 22 points on fast breaks and the Eagles only seven.
The Lopers also got 49 points off their bench, compared to the Eagles’ 16.
The Eagles are now 1-2 for the season and will host Bethany College from Kansas at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21 in the Chicoine Center. Kearney is 1-1 after losing its first game to Southern Nazarene 83-81,
Chadron State—Bryce Latimer 25, Porter Anderson 20, Josh Robinson 17, Jarrett Taylor 14, Dalton Peterson 9, Raul Nunez 8, Martin Poznanovic 8, Jalen Paterson 2. Totals: 39-70 (11-25) 12-19 101 points, 26 rebounds.
Nebraska-Kearney—Sean Evans 21, D’Aundre Samuels 21, Taden King 18, Miquel Robles 15, Ryder Kirsch 12 Bryson Goldsmith 12, Sean Murphy 8, Winston Cook 4, Donavan Short 2. Totals: 48-73 (12-22) 5-5 113 points, 32 rebounds.
Chadron State 55 46 ---101
Nebraska-Kearney 51 62 ---113
3-pointers: CSC—Taylor 4, Peterson 3, Latimer 2, Nunez 2. UNK—King 4, Evans 3, Robles 3, Samuels 1, Kirsch 1.