WICHITA – Newman men's basketball head coach Mark Potter picked up his 300th with an 86-84 victory over St. Mary's on Saturday (Jan. 31) at Fugate Gymnasium. Reggie Baker scored a game-high 34 points in the win.
 
The Jets (10-8, 6-6 Heartland Conference) used a strong second half to get the win. Trailing by four at halftime, 39-35, NU started the second half with a 25-12 run in the first 6 minutes to take the largest lead of the game at 60-51. The Jets made six 3s during the spurt. Baker hit three of the 3s, and Jeremy Espinoza put in two 3s during the burst. Ryan McCarthy also hit a triple. 
 
NU led for the rest of the contest, however, the Rattlers kept it interesting. A layup with 11:24 remaining cut the deficit to one point, 62-61. Back-to-back baskets from McCarthy and Espinoza put NU back up by five at 66-61.
 
With the NU lead at four after a James Pegues free throw for a 79-75 score with 3:04 left, the Jets pushed the advantage out to eight points at 83-75. Baker made a cut and hit a layup to put NU up six and two Espinoza free throw made it 83-75 with 1:04 remaining.
 
A StMU layup and free throw cut the deficit to five at 83-78 with 40 seconds left, and after a NU turnoever, the Rattlers pulled to within two points at 83-81 with 19 seconds remaining.
 
McCarthy was fouled with 16 seconds left, and he hit both free throws for a 85-81 score. The Rattlers didn't go away, hitting its second straight 3 to pull to within one at 85-84 with 8 seconds remaining.
 
Baker was fouled with 6 seconds left and he hit the first free throw for an 86-84 NU advantage. StMU had a last second chance to tie after Baker missed the second, but Bryce Smith's long jumper was shot at the buzzer.
 
Baker, a junior guard from Avon Park, Fla., scored 34 points and added six rebounds and four assists. He shot 12-of-25 in the game, including 8-of-11 in the second half. The junior guard hit four second half 3s. Espinoza added 22 points and was one rebound from a double-double with nine. McCarthy totaled 15 points.
 
The Jets shot 62.1 percent (18-29) in the second half. For the game, NU went 29-59 for 49.2 percent. NU had only nine turnovers and totaled 17 assists on 29 baskets.
 
Mark Potter's career record at NU goes to 300-188 (.615) in 17 seasons at Newman. He restarted the program in 1998. He is first all-time in wins and ties the all-time winning percentage with today's victory. Potter, a 1986 graduate of Newman and a two-sport student-athlete in his time (basketball, baseball), has totaled 300 of NU's 574 all-time wins. He has six 20 win seasons, and he has had a winning record in 13 of his 16 seasons.  
 
The Jets travel to for their next two games. NU goes to Oklahoma Panhandle State on Thursday (Feb. 5) for a 7:30 p.m. tip in Goodwell, Okla.
 
Season                 Record  Pct.
1998-1999            13-9       .590
1999-2000            29-6       .828
2000-2001            23-9       .719
2001-2002            27-5       .843
2002-2003            25-6       .806
2003-2004            17-13     .567
2004-2005            23-10     .697
2005-2006            12-16     .429
2006-2007            11-17     .393
2007-2008            15-12     .556
2008-2009            15-12     .556
2009-2010            18-10     .643
2010-2011            15-12     .556
2011-2012            18-9       .667
2012-2013            20-8       .714
2013-2014            9-17       .346
2014-2015            10-8       .556
Total                      300-188 .615