Rangers Find Themselves on the Short End of a 66-63 Score to Nebraska-Kearney
Denver, Colo.: The Regis Ranger men's basketball team fell in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action 66-63 to the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers at the Regis Fieldhouse. Regis held a tight 33-31 lead at halftime but was unable to hold off the Lopers in the second half.
Neither team led by more than six points in the first half on several occasions by Nebraska-Kearney (7-12, 4-8 RMAC). The Rangers (6-14, 3-9 RMAC) were able to take a lead when they finished the first half on a 10-4 run to take the 33-31 intermission lead.
Regis held the lead until Loper forward Drake Beranek, who had a game-high 28 points, hit a jumper with 14:11 remaining. The Rangers were able to tie the game two possessions later when junior guard Jason Burke-Kavros hit a driving layup. That would be as close as the Rangers would get the rest of the way.
Junior guard Matt Rosinski hit a three-point bomb to close the gap to 63-60 with 1:08 left, but the Lopers went up by four 24 seconds later when Richard Marion hit 1-of-2 from the free throw line.
Rosinski, who had a team-high 20 points, hit another three-pointer with 21 seconds remaining to cut the lead to one point. Two free throws by Jeremy Cruise put UNK ahead again by three with just 18 seconds remaining.
Regis then missed on their next possession and the rebound went to the Lopers Beranek. All he had to do was make 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to seal the game with seven seconds remaining. Fortunately for the Rangers he missed both and with no timeouts the Rangers advanced the ball up the court. However, junior forward Joseph Odugbela's three was just off the mark and UNK got the rebound for the 66-63 win.
Following Rosinski's 20 points was junior center Bill Brandenburg's 12 points, while Burke-Kavros had his first double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds. Senior guard Andy Pokorny chipped in with nine, while Odugbela came off the bench for seven points.
Regis returns to action on Saturday night as they host Chadron State at the Regis Fieldhouse. Tipoff is set for 7 PM.
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