Five scored in double digits to help the Nebraska Kearney men’s basketball team beat Newman, 86-67, Thursday night in the Health & Sports Center.
This was the only meeting between UNK (12-14, 5-10) and NU (5-19, 1-14 this year).
It seemed like the Lopers might run away with it as they scored 22 of the first 27 points. This six-minute stretch featured triples by three different players and scoring from five different Lopers. However, the Jets regrouped quickly and almost came all the way back. Getting some good bench production, they trimmed that 17-point hole to two twice and then were down just 40-33 at the break.
“We knew Newman could play and they settled in. I told the team I watched the film of them against (No. 3) Washburn and they jumped out like we did. But Newman fought right back and Washburn took a timeout,” said UNK head coach Marty Levinson on the KRVN Radio post-game show. “They have a good coach, they do the right things and have some good parts.”
A 16-0 run early in the second half sent Newman back to the post office and they didn’t get the deficit under double digits the rest of the night. The big run started and ended with buckets from senior wing Kendrick Gilbert (St. Louis) with the Jets scoreless for nearly five minutes.
“We weathered the storm, gathered our bearings at halftime and did a good job in the second half of sharing the ball and playing defense,” said Levinson. “Offensively, we’re setting in and reading the defense. The ball movement and the player movement has to match to get a good shot; otherwise you’re shooting contested shots.”
Gilbert (22) fell one shy of tying his career as he made 8 of 10 free throws and 6 of 12 shots. He also had seven rebounds (four offensive), an area where NU was plus three. Next, junior wing Anthony Swift (St. Louis) made three treys and eight shots overall to score 19 as well with senior Tom Connelly (Denver) scoring 12 off the bench. Finally, guards Ja’Bryant Hill (Dallas) and Wade Williams(Huntsville, Texas) had 10 apiece with wing Clayton Moore (Mullen) at a game-best 12 rebounds.
Loper legacy Sam Somerhalder (10 rebounds, eight points), guard Jacob Joe (15 points) and Division I transfer Aime Rutayisire (10 points, seven rebounds) paced Newman.
UNK hosts Emporia State on Saturday to close out the 2025-26 home schedule. The Hornets (8-16, 4-11) fell tonight at Fort Hays State, 62-56.
