WICHITA- Men's Basketball hosted Nebraska Kearney for their first matchup of the season. The Jets fell short to the Lopers, 79-66. 
 
How it Happened:
- The Lopers took the early lead after jumping out on a 9-2 run in the first five minutes of play. Devin Walker was able to stop the Lopers momentum with a basket to make it 9-4. The Lopers were then able to keep their momentum going on the offensive end, going on a small 6-0 run to extend their lead out to 15-4. The Jets were able to put on a 4-0 run with baskets by Sam Medalie and Deadric Fikes that cut the Lopers lead to eight with just under 13 minutes to play. The Lopers were able to extend their lead to 12 points, but a basket by Aaron Murphy kept the Jets within ten. Sam Somerhalder added his fourth point on the next Jets score to take it to just an eight point deficit. UNK then hit back-to-back baskets to take it to a 27-14 game. Jacob Joe answered this small run by the Lopers with a three pointer to put it back to a ten point game with just under nine to play. The next score came from the Lopers at the six minute mark to make it 30-17. UNK had their largest lead of 16 points at the four minute mark. With 2:30 to go, Jayden Schoen hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 12 points. To end the half, Murphy hit a three to cut it to a 40-29 game in favor of the Lopers. 
- Out of the half, a free throw by Jordan Glenn-Hawkins followed by a Thatcher McClure basket cut the deficit to eight points in just under thirty seconds of play. For the next few possessions, the Lopers were able to hold the double-digit lead. Murphy scored five unanswered points to cut the Lopers lead to just six with 16 minutes to play. The Lopers were able to put together an 8-2 run to take their lead to 54-41 with under 12 minutes to play. McClure earned his way to the free throw line, where he hit both, to put the Jets within 11. UNK answered with a big three-pointer and a steal that led to a breakaway layup. This put the Lopers up 59-43 under 11 to play. McClure answered this 4-0 run by the Lopers with a three, but UNK was able to score on the next possession to keep the Jets at a distance. Newman continued to battle and chip away at the Lopers lead. A basket by Aime Rutayisire followed by a steal and score by Schoen brought the Jets back within 11 points with nine minutes left. The Lopers were able to extend their lead back to 13 with a three-pointer, but Schoen answered with another three to make it a ten point game with under six to play. The Lopers continued to answer on the offensive end, taking the lead back to 12 after another offensive score. The Jets were able to make it a nine point game at the 4:30 mark with an offensive rebound putback by Murphy. A steal and score by th eLopers took the score to 73-61 with 2:30 to play. The Jets cut the deficit to ten points with 1:30 left with a dunk by Fikes. Though the Jets continued to battle, they were never able to complete the comeback. The Jets fell, 79-66.
 
Player Notes:
- Murphy led the way with 25 points, enough for his career high and season high. 
- Schoen scored nine points. 
- McClure added nine points. 
 
The Jets are back on Saturday to face Fort Hays State at 3:30 PM.