Story by UNK Athletic Communications
Kearney, Neb. – Senior guard Israel Hart tied his career-high of 30 points, scoring 24 in the first half, to help Central Oklahoma defeat Nebraska Kearney, 82-67, Thursday night in Edmond.
The Bronchos (10-8, 4-5) improve to 8-3 at home and have won all 10 games by at least 15 points. By contrast, all eight of their losses are by 10 points or less. UNK (6-10, 4-4) falls to 5-23 all-time vs. UCO including a 0-13 mark in 50-year-old Hamilton Fieldhouse. This is the only meeting between the two this year.
Hart, who began his career at Seminole State (Okla.) College, redshirted last season for the 'Chos but entered tonight at a team-best 15.7 points per game. He promptly made 9 of his first 10 shots to have 24 points in just 14 first half minutes. It was a bit of a shootout as UCO shot 60% (19 of 32) in the first half with UNK at 52% (16 of 31). That gave the Lopers a puncher's chance as they were down just 47-39 at the break.
"Hart came out and hit tough shot after tough shot. They weren't wide open shots; they were bumped, they were contested," said UNK head coach Marty Levinson on the KRVN Radio post-game show. "They were ready to play and are a good team. You might know what they are going to do but they still get to it."
A three from redshirt junior guard Ja'Bryant Hill (Duncanville, Texas) made it a 49-44 two minutes into the second half. UNK then got a defensive stop, but a turnover followed and ended the momentum. UCO responded with a 20-10 run over the next nine minutes to put things away.
"They out rebounded us, and they pretty much got to the loose balls. And when you get to the loose balls, you usually do make shots," said Levinson. "You got to take it from them when you're on the road, but they came out and punched us in the nose first."
The Lopers cooled off from the field in the second half (27%) as did UCO (39%). However, the 'Chos won the battle on the glass by nine, took advantage of 18 UNK turnovers and got eight others into the scoring column besides Hart.
To record his seventh game of at least 20 points this winter, Hart was 10 of 15 (4 of 7 threes) from the field and 6 of 6 at the line. He added three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block in 28 minutes. Hart also had 30 points in a March 2023 win over Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa. Next, Division I transfers Jordan Thompson (13) and Jacobi Seabock (12) combined for 25 points, 12 rebounds and four assists with 6-10 veteran post Luke Haasl at five rebounds, four points, and three blocks.
"In the second half, we wanted to hard hedge (on Hart). Get after him and take him out. They are a good slipping and good rolling team and have athletic bigs. So, it's hard to over hedge," said Levinson. "It bit us because he came off the corner and made good decisions. At the end of the game, we had to chase possessions and stay aggressive."
Four Loper starters reached double digits including Hill (16) and sophomore post Taylor Harrell (12). Hill added three steals with Harrell going 5 of 8 from the field. Off the bench, forward Clayton Moore (Mullen) and DJ Jamerson (Cibolo, Texas) had six points apiece.
UNK heads to Claremore, Okla., on Saturday to face Rogers State. The Hillcats (14-7, 5-4) fell tonight to Fort Hays State, 74-63.