Lopers Upset #9 SW Minnesota at the Buzzer, 77-75

Senior transfer Wade Williams tallied a put back bucket at the buzzer the help Nebraska Kearney beat ninth-ranked Southwest Minnesota State, 77-75, Sunday evening in Hays, Kan.

The game was part of the annual MIAA/NSIC Crossover Tournament. On Friday, UNK (2-3) fell to Concordia-St. Paul while the Mustangs (0-2) lost to Fort Hays State. Last weekend in Montana, the Blue & Gold upset 10th-ranked Colorado School of Mines. 

A tip-in from North Platte junior guard River Johnston gave UNK a 75-71 lead with 2:33 remaining. However, the overwhelming preseason favorites in the NSIC tied things up thanks to a jumper at the 2:07 mark and two made free throws with 11 seconds remaining. The Lopers missed two shots down the stretch, and the Mustangs grabbed an offensive rebound that led to the tying freebies.

Not calling a timeout, Texas senior point guard Ja'Bryant Hill lofted up an 18-footer with 2.5 seconds remaining with Williams (Huntsville, Texas) was there for the put back. The officials reviewed the play, but it was clear the ball was out before the horn sounded. Williams, a transfer from NAIA Central Baptist (Ark.) College, finished with a game-high 25 points. Eighteen of that came in the first half when UNK built an early 11-2 lead.

"We fought so hard to get back into it. I think we were down 10 (62-52) and we went to a press. We had that lead but then they hit the free throws. We were trying to get the last shot...I saw JB bobble the pickup a little bit, so I thought it was going to be a tough shot," said UNK head coach Marty Levinson on the KRVN Radio post-game show. "Then Taylor (Harrell) crashed, Wade crashed. Taylor is like an offensive lineman, wiping out a couple of people when he went and Wade came in behind him and cleaned it up. I thought it counted but we had to re-gather our emotions."

UNK overcame first half foul trouble thanks to 11 of 25 three-point shooting, being even on the glass (34-34) and getting 20 bench points. Both squads had eight turnovers, shot about 45% from the field with neither team leading by more than 10 points.

Williams reached his point total by making 10 of 15 shots (4 of 4 threes) over 33 minutes. Next, Hill had 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists with Las Vegas junior Anthony Swift supplying 12 points and seven boards. Finally, Johnson and Denver senior Tom Connelly had nine points apiece on a combined 7 of 15 shooting.

"They were co-conference champions of their league last year with Concordia. Just like us, they've been in the fire, and we knew this crossover tournament was going to be tough," said Levinson. "We knew we weren't going to run away from them. They've got too much character and too many good players that have been there before. But we've got guys that have won at a lot of different levels. I'm just proud of these guys and our defense stepped up tonight."

Returning nearly everyone off a 21-9 squad, the 'Stangs were led by 6-7 junior forward Aeron Stevens (26 points), senior guard Jakob Braaten and 6-7 senior guard Lund. They both scored 17 but SMSU was just 6 of 20 from downtown.

The Lopers are now off until a "Pre-Thanksgiving" home game (4 p.m. tip) vs. Hastings College on Nov. 26.