By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Nebraska-Kearney shot 63-percent from the floor in the first half including 6-of-10 from beyond the arc in building a 28-point halftime lead and defeats the Fort Hays State Tigers 79-59 in front of 3.721 Saturday night at the Health and Sports Center in Kearney. The loss drops the Tigers to 16-10 overall, and 9-10 in MIAA where they hold a one-game lead over Washburn for eighth place and a first-round home game in the conference standings. The Loeprs improve to 16-8 and 11-6 in the MIAA.

Mark Johnson Post Game

 

James Fleming Post Game

 

Game Highlights

The Lopers raced out to an early 12-2 lead but FHSU answered with a 7-0 to pull within three on a James Fleming 3-pointers. The Lopers scored the next seven to push the lead back to double-figures. It was part of a 19-3 run that saw their lead grow to 19. After the Tigers closed the gap to 14, UNK closed the half on a 17-3 run and lead 48-20 at the break and were up as many as 34 in the second half.

The Tigers shot 42-percent from the floor and were just 3-for-15 from beyond the arc. Kearney cooled off in the second half but still managed to hit on 49-percent of their shots including 10-of-20 from beyond the arc.

James Fleming and Achoki Moikobu both scored 12 to lead the Tigers. Connor Beranek lead UNK with a game-high 20.