KEARNEY – Junior forward Sean Murphy posted a double double and freshman guard D’Aundre Samuels had a season-high 22 points as Nebraska Kearney beat Bethany (Kan.) College, 79-66, Tuesday night at the Health & Sports Center.
This was the first meeting with the Swedes of Lindsborg, Kan., in 62 years. UNK ends the first semester at 5-5 while BC remains at 2-8 as this was an exhibition per NAIA rules.
The Lopers held a double-digit lead for much of the night and led by as many as 21 points. All 12 players took to the court and scored with UNK shooting 51% and having a plus 10 rebounding margin. However, the Swedes hung around thanks to the play of junior guard Maurice Cudjo II (19 points, five rebounds, and four assists).
“They have some good players over there and that’s how it is nowadays. You’re not going to play any college that doesn’t have one or two good players,” said UNK interim head coach Antoine Young.
Murphy (Auckland, New Zealand) totaled 18 points and 11 rebounds over 28 minutes to have his second double double of the year. He went 8 of 14 from the field with eight of his caroms coming on the defensive end. This also marks his seventh game with at least four rebounds. Next, Samuels (Denver) made 11 of 16 shots and handed out six assists as well. He routinely worked out of the high post as UNK amassed 28 assists on 35 made buckets.
“In their last game they almost played zone the entire time. If you can throw it into the high post, and put the right guys there, you can do some damage,” said Young. “We put our best facilitator (Samules) at the high post instead of operating at the three-point line. It was easier for him to dish it out and their zone basically becomes a man.”
Bethany did win the second half, 38-37, with Cudjo II knocking down five of his teams eight threes. Lefty Jamal Frenchwood (12 points, five rebounds) and post Kobe Samake Krajnc (six points, two o-boards) also contributed.
“We usually come out with the intensity we need but we can lose focus and paying attention to details,” said Young. “That’s part of being young and having a bunch of new guys that don’t yet understand the type of focus you’re going to have to have in our league. We need to get better there.”
Also for UNK, guards Miguel Robles (East L.A.) and Sean Evans (Parker, Colo.) had five assists apiece and combined for 14 points with reserve post Donavan Short (Denmark, Wisc.) providing six points and three boards. Finally, redshirt freshman forward Austin Treece (Wyoming, Mich.) scored his first collegiate point.
The Division II moratorium runs from Dec. 20-26 (no games or practices) so the Lopers will just have two practices to prep for a Dec. 29 road date at Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos (11-1, 3-1) spent the past two days in Las Vegas, thus moving the regularly scheduled games with UNK and Fort Hays State to the end of the month.
“We have a quick turn around to go play a monster of a team and we’ve got to find a way to get stops. Right now, we’re struggling to stay in front of the ball and that’s going to dictate the year we have,” said Young.
