Games 11 & 12:
Newman (4-6, 0-4 MIAA) @ Nebraska-Kearney (2-7, 0-3 MIAA)
Friday, December 16, 2022 | 7:00 p.m. | Kearney, Neb. (Health & Sports Center)
Audio:  The River 93.1/106.9 KRVN FM (Play-by-Play:  Jayson Jorgensen) | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  UNK Athletics
 
@ Fort Hays State (7-2, 2-1 MIAA)
Sunday, December 18, 2022 | 4:00 p.m. | Hays, Kan. (Gross Memorial Coliseum)
Audio:  103.3 FM KJLS (Play-by-Play:  Gerard Wellbrock) | Video:  MIAA Network | Live Stats:  FHSU Athletics
 
GET ON THE BOARD
Newman sets out for its final games of the first semester this weekend looking for its first MIAA win of the season.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Missouri Southern had its best offensive day of the season by far and shot 62% from the field on the way to a 100-66 win over the Jets Dec. 10 at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita.  The Lions shot well over their season averages hitting 51.9% of their threes (14-for-27) and 75% of their free throws (24-for-32).  The Jets won several categories, including forcing 20 turnovers while giving the ball away just 13 times.  NU outscored MoSo 19-8 off turnovers but shot just 35.8% from the field and hit just 4 of 20 shots from outside.  Stevie Smith led the Navy & Red with a career-high 18 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
The Jets dropped a tight decision 69-64 to Pittsburg State earlier last week.
 
BEHIND ENEMY LINES
Nebraska-Kearney is looking to turn things around in 2022-23.  The Lopers finished 11-17 last year with a 7-15 conference record.  Following an 8-14 record in 2020-21, the Lopers have posted consecutive losing seasons for the first time since finishing under .500 three straight times from 2008-11.  The Lopers have finished with losing records three out of the last four seasons and have finished with single-digit MIAA wins in each of those three years.  The Lopers look to end a two-year postseason drought in 2023 and are seeking their 13^th NCAA Tournament appearance and their first since 2016.
 
The Lopers enter the last week of the first semester on a five-game losing streak after dropping an 84-74 decision at #1 Northwest Missouri last week.  UNK ranks sixth in 'The Association' scoring 75.3 ppg but is last defensively allowing 81.1 ppg.  UNK's leading scorer Darrian Nebeker is fourth in the conference in scoring at 18.6 ppg while Sean Murphy is eighth in the league grabbing 6.6 boards per night.  Nebeker leads the league in assists at 4.7 per game and in minutes at 36.0 per contest.
 
Following back-to-back .500 seasons, Fort Hays State showed dramatic improvement in 2021-22 after finishing 23-6 while notching a 17-5 record in MIAA games.  Despite the impressive resume the Tigers, after narrowly falling to #15 Northwest Missouri in the MIAA Tournament semifinals, were not selected for the 2022 NCAA Tournament.  2021-22 was FHSU's first winning season since finishing 18-11 in 2018-19.  The Tigers haven't suffered a losing season since 2006-07 when they limped to a 13-15 record while finishing 6-12 in conferenced action.  Last season's MIAA Madness was the program's first postseason berth since 2019.  2021-22 was FHSU's first 20-win campaign since finishing 20-11 in 2015-16.  The Tigers seek their 14^th NCAA Tournament appearance in 2023 which would be the program's first since 2016.
 
Fort Hays State is currently 11^th in the league in offense at 71.3 ppg while ranking at the top defensively at 56.8 ppg.  The Tigers fell 64-49 at #1 Northwest Missouri Dec. 11 snapping a seven-game winning streak for FHSU.  Leading scorer Kaleb Hammeke is tied for second in the MIAA offensively at 18.9 ppg.  The Tigers are led by Gabe Pieschl on the glass at 5.8 rpg.
 
The Tigers host #11 Central Oklahoma on Friday.
 
Both the Lopers and Tigers had games against Missouri Western postponed last week due to Coronavirus protocols inside the Griffon program.
 
THE SERIES
Nebraska-Kearney leads 5-1 with all five games coming as MIAA foes.  UNK has won three in a row in the series and is 3-0 against the Jets in Kearney.
 
Fort Hays State leads 43-10 with the Tigers taking the last six in a row and 11 of 12 from the Jets.  The Tigers lead 16-2 in NU's NCAA Division II era.  FHSU leads 6-0 in games counting towards the MIAA standings.
 
PREVIOUS MATCHUP
On a night where both teams combined to turn the ball over just 13 times, Nebraska-Kearney's superior shooting numbers proved to be the difference in an 89-75 triumph over NU February 5, 2022, at Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita.  The Jets were no slouch offensively connecting at a 48.2% rate from the field with 13 assists against just six turnovers and 40 paint points.  Defensively, NU had no answer for UNK as the Lopers torched the nets at a 54.2% clip while outscoring the Jets 33-18 from behind the 3-point line.  Five different Lopers scored in double figures led by David Simental's 33 points.  Israel Barnes led NU with 25 points.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
Continuing a series trend, the Jets and Tigers battled to the final moments in a game that was critical for the Jets to make a run to the MIAA Tournament.  The Jets jumped out to a 17-7 lead early but couldn't hold the lead as Fort Hays State escaped Fugate Gymnasium in Wichita with a 63-60 win February 3, 2022.  The Tigers overcame the 10-point deficit and chipped their way into a 29-28 lead at the half.  The Tigers never trailed in the second half but could build no more than a seven-point lead.  The Jets tied the game at 34 moments into the second but could never get over the hump.  NU closed to within a single point five times in the last 10 minutes of the game but could never make the decisive stop to have a shot to take the lead.  Israel Barnes led all scorers with 28 points for the Navy & Red.
Full Recap | Box Score
 
THROW OUT THE RECORDS
Just because Fort Hays State has a long winning streak in the series doesn't mean the wins have come easy over the Jets.  11 of the last 14 games in the series have been decided by 10 points or less.  The margin has been six points or less in three of the last four meetings with one of the games being decided in overtime.
 
THIS GYM IS GROSS
Fort Hays State has an astounding 24-2 record against the Jets in games played in Hays.  The Jets and Tigers locked up twice at Sheridan Coliseum prior to the opening of Gross Memorial Coliseum in 1973 with FHSU taking both games.  The Tigers are 22-2 against the Jets at their 'new' home and have won 15 in a row over the Jets there.  NU's last win at Gross came in a 75-69 triumph December 7, 1981.  NU's only other Gross win was a two-point margin on January 14, 1978.
 
FINDING THE MARK
The Jets have been outshot from the field by percentage in each of their last five games including their first four MIAA games of the season.  In the same span, Navy & Red opponents have also hit a higher percentage of 3-point baskets.  The Jets have enjoyed an advantage in free throw percentage in three of the last four games.
 
'LEE'SING AGREEMENT
Ian Lee has developed into one of the MIAA's premier distributors in the conference over his first two seasons with the Jets.  With 13 assists this season, Lee is currently eighth on the all-time list after passing Jarvis Jackson and Ryan McCarthy.  Lee needs eight assists to pass 'The Junkyard Dog' Kevin Bryant who compiled 150 assists in his three-year career for the Jets from 2015-18.
 
CAREER ASSISTS
Rk.           Player                                      Ast           Games    Years      
1.             Ben Ayre                                 240          56            2017-19
2.             Eric Saunders                          208          54            2010-12
3.             Cortrael Colbert                      204          56            2014-16
4.             Tyjil Hereford                          171          98            2017-21
5.             Jake Darby                               169          48            2008-10
6.             Bobby Wesley                         160          47            2010-13
7.             Kevin Bryant                            150          82            2015-18
8.             Ian Lee                                    142          57            2020-23
9.             Jarvis Jackson                          139          54            2007-09
10.           Ryan McCarthy                        135          113          2011-15
 
IT WAS PERFECT… PERFECT, EVERYTHING DOWN TO THE LAST, MINUTE DETAILS
Ian Lee nearly achieved a rare perfect night from the field against Sterling College.  The Toronto, Canada junior hit all eight of his field goals while going 4-for-4 from outside the arc.  One missed free throw after a hard foul was the only blemish on the night for the Canadian.  Lee now owns the Newman record for single-game field goals made without missing.  He passes a trio of Jets who had all finished the game 7-for-7 from the field:  Shamar Acuay, Juwan Davenport, and Joel Boyce.  Boyce was the last to accomplish the feat with a 7-for-7 performance at Pittsburg State February 27, 2021.
 
A STRONG START
Stevie Strong's start to his Newman career landed him in the NU record book last season.  Strong's 288 points in just 21 games set the season scoring record for a Newman freshman.  Not only that, but Strong also set the single-game freshman scoring record by pouring in 29 points in a game against Northeastern State last season.  Strong also set the record for season free throw percentage by hitting 89.5% of his charity shots.  Strong's 29 consecutive makes at the line to open a season were also best all-time by a Jet. 
 
CAPTAIN OF THE FLEET
R. J. Allen begins his sixth season as the head coach of the Jets in 2021.  It will be his 12th season with the program.  Allen has compiled a record of 53-81 over his first five years in Wichita with a 10-55 record in MIAA play.  Allen has coached a player to the All-MIAA team each of his first three years in the league.  Israel Barnes received All-MIAA Honorable Mention recognition last season, Joel Boyce was named All-MIAA Honorable Mention in 2021, while Marshawn Blackmon earned Third Team recognition in 2020.  During the Jets' last year in the Heartland Conference, Allen led NU to a 20-9 overall record while finishing third in the Heartland Conference at 11-5.  The 20 wins tied the NU record for victories in their NCAA Division II era.  NU also finished the season in the Top 10 of the South Central Regional Rankings.  Allen was named the 2018 Heartland Conference Coach of the Year in his first season at the helm at Newman after guiding the Jets on a dramatic turnaround in the second half of the season that saw NU finish 14-14 overall and third in the conference with a 10-6 record.
 
Allen arrived in Wichita in 2011 and spent six seasons as an assistant and eventually associate head coach under Mark Potter, NU's all-time winningest coach.  The Jets won 88 games over those 6 years and made four trips to the Heartland Conference Tournament and the school's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance after going 20-8 in 2012-13.  He was also on the bench when the Jets knocked off No. 2 seed Lubbock Christian in the first round of the 2016 Heartland Conference Tournament to earn its first ever postseason victory as an NCAA program.
 
Allen is no stranger to the Air Capital after growing up in Wichita and playing his prep years for his dad, Ron, at Wichita East High School.  Allen was a two time All-City and All-State selection and helped lead the Blue Aces to the 2002 6A state championship.  Following high school, Allen stayed local playing two years at Hutchinson Community College.  The Blue Dragons dominated during Allen's career going 57-9 over the two-year span with a 41-1 record in Jayhawk Conference play and winning the conference title in 2004.
 
Allen has a 1-5 record against the Lopers and is 1-7 against Fort Hays State.
 
LEADING THE LOPERS & TRAINING THE TIGERS
Mark Johnson is in his 23^rd year as the head coach of Fort Hays State and he is the winningest coach in program history.  Johnson entered the year 407-203 with a 256-155 mark in conference games and a 190-129 record in the MIAA.  Johnson previously served as an assistant coach for the Tigers from 1996-2001 on the staff of Gary Garner.  Before he arrived at Hays, Johnson was an assistant at Phillips University in Oklahoma and Labette Community College.  His career started as a graduate assistant at Pittsburg State, his alma mater.  As a Gorilla, Johnson was twice honored as an All-MIAA player and was All-South Region as a senior.  He transferred to Pittsburg after two seasons at Kilgore Junior College.  As a senior at Millard South High School in Omaha, Neb., Johnson was named All-America, All-State, All-Metro, and All-Conference.  Johnson has led the Tigers to seven NCAA Tournaments and ten 20-win seasons.  He has suffered just one losing season as the Tigers' head coach.  Johnson led FHSU to a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference-East Division crown in 2006 with an 18-1 RMAC record and a first-place tie in the MIAA in 2013. 
 
Johnson's teams are 17-2 against Newman.
 
Kevin Lofton is in his 28^th year as a member of the UNK coaching staff and has been head coach since 2005.  Lofton started with Nebraska-Kearney as a graduate assistant from 1995-97.  He joined the staff full time after that and was made associate head coach in 2001.  In 2005, he became co-head coach with Tom Kropp and was retained in the head role following Kropp's retirement at the end of the 2014-15 season.  It is Lofton's 18^th year as head coach and entering the season he has amassed a record of 258-223 with a 177-160 mark in conference play.  In seven years as a solo coach, Lofton is 102-98 with a 67-75 tally against 'The Association'.  Lofton started his playing career in his home state of Arizona at Yavapai Community College before finishing his education at Regis in the RMAC.  As head coach or co-head coach, Lofton has led the Lopers to three NCAA Tournament appearances and 11 postseason appearances overall, four 20-win seasons and was on the bench for UNK's 2006 RMAC Tournament title.  He led the Lopers to their best-ever MIAA Tournament finish in his first year solo on the bench when UNK finished 21-12, 14-8 in the league, runner-up in the MIAA Tournament and reached the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament. 
 
Lofton is 5-1 against the Jets.
 
SCOUTING THE SQUADRON
The Jets went 6-21 in 2021-22 with a 3-19 record inside the MIAA.  Newman returns four players from last year's squad including second-leading scorer Stevie Strong, who averaged 13.7 ppg.  Strong was also second on the team in steals with 22 and led the Jets in 3-pointers shooting 44-for-138 from outside (31.9%).  Strong also paced the Jets from the foul line with 68 free throws on the way to shooting an impressive 89.5%.  Junior Ian Lee started 23 of 27 games for the Jets last season and dazzled offensively with 83 assists against just 43 turnovers.  Lee was also Newman's third-leading scorer at 9.6 ppg.
 
The Jets will be junior and graduate led this season with no seniors on the roster.  The Jets start the season with seven freshmen on the roster.  The Navy & Red will feature eight transfers this season: five from the junior college level and four from NCAA Division I.  Newman's roster features two graduate students, six juniors, and four sophomores.
 
LEADING 'THE ASSOCIATION'

• Former Campus Colt Stevie Strong is fifth in the MIAA in scoring at 17.6 ppg.
• Strong is ninth in the league in 3-pointers per game nailing 2.3 per contest.
• Strong ranks tied for fifth in steals with 1.8 pilfers per game.

 
NU STATS 'N STREAKS

• Stevie Strong has scored in double figures in 11-consecutive games dating back to last season. 
• Strong swiped a career-high four steals against the Lions last week.
• Latik Murphy's streak of double-figure scoring was snapped at five against Missouri Southern.
• Thomas Zevgaras set a new career high with 12 boards against Pittsburg State last week.
• In the same game, Kwaku Agyapong nabbed a personal-best nine rebounds.
• The Navy & Red is 13^th offensively in the MIAA at 69.9 ppg.
• The Jets are ranked 13^th defensively allowing 74.0 ppg.
• The Jets are looking for their first winning season since 2018-19 when Newman finished 20-9 while tying for third in the Heartland Conference.  NU also seeks its first 10-win season since that same campaign.  2018-19 was also the last season NU participated in the postseason, losing in the first round of the final Heartland Conference Tournament to Rogers State.
• In NU's 100-66 loss to MoSo, NU gave up 100 points for the first time since losing 100-61 at Washburn December 5, 2020, at Lee Arena in Topeka.  It was the first time an opponent had shot over 50% against the Jets since Dallas Baptist did so earlier this season on November 19.  Five Lions scored in double-figures, the first team to do that since five RiverHawks scored at least 10 points for Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla., February 17, 2022.
• In the same game, Christian Bundy grabbed 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Lions, the first player to register a double-double since Kevin Kone went for 14 points and 22 reb in NU's loss at Lincoln December 1, 2022.

 
AND THEN…
The Navy & Red close out 2022 by hosting Emporia State on New Year's Eve.
 
2022-23 MIAA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 1:  Bennett Stirtz – Northwest Missouri
Week 2:  Alijah Comithier – Emporia State
Week 3:  Will Eames – Missouri Western
Week 4:  Kaleb Hammeke – Fort Hays State
Week 5:  Diego Bernard – Northwest Missouri (2)
 
2022 MIAA MEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLLS
Coaches
1.  Northwest Missouri (11) – 167 Points
2.  Central Oklahoma (3) – 158 Points
3.  Fort Hays State – 137 Points
4.  Washburn – 131 Points
5.  Emporia State – 125 Points
6.  Northeastern State – 100 Points
7.  Missouri Western – 93 Points
8.  Missouri Southern – 85 Points
9.  Central Missouri – 73 Points
T-10.  Pittsburg State – 63 Points
T-10.  Rogers State – 63 Points
12.  Nebraska-Kearney – 36 Points
13.  Lincoln – 26 Points
14.  Newman – 17 Points
 
Media
1.  Northwest Missouri (14) – 261 Points
2.  Central Oklahoma (4) – 243 Points
3.  Fort Hays State – 216 Points
4.  Washburn – 209 Points
5.  Emporia State – 181 Points
6.  Missouri Western – 163 Points
7.  Missouri Southern – 146 Points
8.  Northeastern State – 135 Points
9.  Central Missouri – 112 Points
10.  Pittsburg State – 106 Points
11.  Rogers State – 92 Points
12.  Nebraska-Kearney – 67 Points
13.  Newman – 33 Points
14.  Lincoln – 31 Points