UNK MBB: Samuels Has Season-High 22 in Loss to the Blue Tigers

The Lincoln Blue Tigers shot 52 percent from the field and had four score in double figures to down Nebraska-Kearney, 87-66, Saturday evening in Jefferson City, Mo.

LU (14-10, 9-9) stops a four-game losing streak and sweeps the season series from the Lopers (5-19, 2-17) for a second straight year.

It was just a 23-22 LU advantage before they went on a 14-4 run late in the first half to take control. The spurt featured three triples, two from senior reserve Sam Rautins. The Blue Tigers led the rest of the way as they got contributions from nine different players.

After tying his career-best of 21 points in a Thursday night loss at Central Missouri, freshman guard D'Aundre Samuels (Denver) went for 22 tonight thanks to 8 of 18 (1 of 4 threes) shooting). Going 5 of 5 at the line, he also grabbed a team-best nine boards and had three assists and three steals. Finally for UNK, junior lefty wing Taden King (Rexburg, Idaho) went for 17 points on 6 of 9 (2 of 3 threes) shooting.

A balanced Blue Tiger attack featured 18 points and nine rebounds from 6-8, 270-pound senior starter Elijah Farr, 14 points and three triples by junior Tyson Robinson and 16 points from Rautins. He sunk 4 of 8 threes as LU went a solid 13 of 27 from downtown. UNK was just of 8-22 from the arc with King going 3 of 6.

The Lopers host Pitt State and Missouri Southern next weekend.