Kearney, Neb. – Graduate guard Allen Taylor scored 24 points and senior guard Trey Hepburn was big off the bench to help Nebraska Kearney beat Missouri Southern State, 88-78, Saturday night at the Health & Sports Center.

This was a key game for both teams in the MIAA Tournament race. UNK (11-14, 9-8) takes the only meeting with the Lions (11-15, 6-11) and is now tied with Central Oklahoma for fifth in the standings with three others a game back at 8-9. Additionally, the Blue & Gold beats Mo So for the first time since Dec. 2017, a span of nine games. 

After shooting the lights out Thursday night in a loss to Pittsburg State, the offensive wasn't there for the Lopers over the first 25 minutes. MSSU, behind veteran Martin Macenis and freshman Tyrique Brooks, led 38-37 at the half and by eight five minutes into the second half.

"Our best offense all year long has been our defense. When we play together and share it, we're pretty good," said Loper coach Marty Levinson. "There's nothing like getting loose balls. That's my saying … if you get all the loose balls, the shots are going to go in."

UNK started to heat up on both ends of the court and was up 60-55 after a Taylor triple. However, MSSU scored the next five points before a game-deciding spurt by the Lopers. The six-minute stretch featured four made free throws, a dunk from junior Kendrick Gilbert (St. Louis), and a triple by senior Chase Thompson (Omaha Westside). It was 76-66 and MSSU didn't get closer than six the rest of the night.

"I'm proud of the way we won it. They sat in a zone, and we haven't seen a zone a lot lately," said Levinson. "They did a good job of getting their wings high in the zone and they kind of take your guards away. You have to get behind it and it just took us a little while to settle into that."

Taylor (Bradley, Ark.), who recently went over 2,000 points college, carried the load early and finished 7 of 19 (4 of 8 threes) from the field and 6 of 6 at the line. The lefty added eight rebounds and two assists in team-high 39 minutes. Next, Hepburn (Bellevue West) helped corral several athletic Lions guards with his pesky defense. He ended up with seven points, four steals, four rebounds and an assist over 22 minutes.

"Trey is one of my favorite people of all-time because he does all the selfless things," said Levinson. "Taylor (Harrell) went out of his area and snatched those rebounds with two hands."

UNK ended plus five on the boards, went 25 of 37 at the line and tallied 26 points off 18 MSSU turnovers. Finally, Texas junior guard Ja'Bryant Hill (18), Gilbert (16), and Texas sophomore reserve post Taylor Harrell (11) also reached double digits.

For Mo Southern, Brooks went for a team-high 21 on 7 of 11 shooting with Macenis at 18 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Finally, reserve Isaiah Atwater knocked down three triples to score 11.

The Lopers head to Fort Hays State (18-8, 11-6) Wednesday night in a game that was postponed from January due to weather.