LANCASTER, Texas – The Southern Arkansas men's basketball team opened up their 2016-17 season with a tough 76-70 defeat by the hands of Nebraska Kearney on Friday night inside "The Valley" on the campus of Cedar Valley Community College.
RECORDS
Nebraska Kearney Lopers (1-0)
Southern Arkansas Muleriders (0-1)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Both teams struggled some to generate offense early on in the game with defense dictating much of the action, but the Muleriders were able to capitalize more often offensively in the first half thanks to four 3-pointers and 10-of-14 shooting from the charity stripe
- Their success from the line and beyond the arc helped SAU carry a seven-point lead into the break, 36-29
- Early in the second half, SAU extended their lead to double-digits thanks to Denarious Lockhart establishing himself inside. The 6-9 senior made good on SAU's first three baskets of the second period and looked to be virtually unstoppable.
- The Lopers brought it back to single digits with four-straight points from the free throw line in less than a minute
- SAU weathered that push by UNK and led by eight points, 49-41, at the 12:48 mark
- A pair of Kearney 3-pointers began to shift the momentum to the Lopers, and on the heels of a SAU technical foul, UNK knotted the game at 51-all with 10:32 left as they made good on both technical foul shots as well as a layup on their ensuing possession. It was the first tie score in the game since the eight minute mark of the first half.
- The Muleriders did not relinquish the lead at that point despite the furious charge by the Lopers and the two teams traded points over the next minute or so of the game.
- With the score tied at 58-all, UNK grabbed their first lead since mid-way through the opening period on a layup by Isaiah McKay. That lead was short-lived thanks to a layup by De'Sean Dockery, but a basket from long range on the other end sparked a 10-0 run, giving the Lopers a double-digit advantage with just under six minutes to play
- A short 5-0 burst by the Muleriders made it a five-point game, but Kearney was able to stave off SAU for the six-point victory, 76-70
TURNING POINT
- A technical foul called against SAU turned into a four-point swing in what was a four-point game in favor of the Muleriders at the time. After the technical foul was assessed, Nebraska Kearney's Ty Danielson made good on both free throw attempts and on getting the ball right back, UNK tied the game at 51-all on a layup by guard Yashua Trent.
- Minutes later and with momentum swinging in Kearney's favor, Trent sparked a 10-0 run with a three-pointer
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Each team held a double-digit lead at one point with SAU's largest margin being 11 points and UNK's being 10 points
- The Muleriders just edged out the Lopers in overall field goal percentage (40.0 to 39.7)
- SAU turned the ball over 14 times and the Lopers took advantage of those turning them into 18 points on the other end. Conversely, UNK had nine turnovers with SAU totaling just four points from that
- The Muleriders out-rebounded UNK 45-38, and Snyder Cenecharles and Denarious Lockhart were key factors in that advantage for SAU as they had 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively
- Cenecharles and Lockhart also scored in double-digits as each record double-doubles
- CJ Elkins led SAU in scoring with 21 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field
UP NEXT
The Muleriders will have a rather quick turnaround with the second game of their season on tap for a 5 p.m. tip-off against Minot State.
