News

Lopers end Eagles’ season in RMAC Shootout

Feb 28, 2012

Chadron State's Chris Curtis shoots during the Eagles' game against the University of Nebraska-Kearney Tuesday in Kearney, Neb. (Photo by Alex Helmbrecht)

KEARNEY, Neb. – Nebraska-Kearney’s Ethan Brozek scored a game-high 22 points and added 12 rebounds and two others joined him in double figures to lead the Lopers to an 86-63 win over Chadron State during the opening round of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout Tuesday at the Health and Sports Center.

Box Score

The Lopers (16-11) shot 54 percent from the field for the game and scored 20 points off 16 CSC turnovers, while the Eagles shot just 39 percent from the field.

The loss abruptly snaps Chadron State’s recent eight game winning streak. The Eagles, who are now 1-7 in RMAC Shootout games, end the season with a 13-14 record. All 13 of the Eagles’ wins came during RMAC competition, which are the second-most conference victories in school history.

On Tuesday, Chadron State netted the first hoop of the game but the Lopers took their first lead at 7-6 early in the opening half and never relented en route to its 45-27 halftime advantage.

UNK proceeded to build its lead in the first half behind solid defense and strong 3-point shooting. The Lopers made four of eight from long range – they hit just two the entire game in Chadron on Saturday – and forced the Eagles into 11 turnovers, while allowing just 11 made field goals.

The Lopers also took away Chadron State post player and leading scorer Moala Tautuaa by double-teaming him in the paint. For the game, Tautuaa only had two field goal attempts and finished with five points.

The Eagles played better in the second half but Kearney built its lead to as many as 27 points to remain undefeated in RMAC Shootout First Round games.

In addition to Brozek, UNK’s Max Froehlich scored 19 and Jon Henderson added 14.

Sammy Hines and Chris Curtis each scored 15 to lead Chadron State.

Also for Chadron State, Tim McDavid and Kendrick Holliman scored six apiece off the bench and Kevin McClelland finished with eight.

—CSC Sports Information