KEARNEY, Neb. – The Northwest Missouri State University men's basketball team was dealt a 74-69 setback against the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers Thursday night in MIAA action.
 
The Bearcats dipped to 4-12 overall and 2-5 in MIAA play. The Lopers improved to 6-8 overall and 4-2 in league action.
 
Northwest overcame a 14-point second half deficit and took a five-point with 2:46 to play in the game. However, a late technical foul assessed to Luke Moustakas after he blocked a shot with 1:32 turned the contest around again. UNK's Ja'Bryant Hill made both free throws and he followed it up with a three-pointer from the top of the key to give the Lopers a 68-66 lead with 1:26 left in the game.
 
Emorie Knox had an opportunity to knot the game at 68-68 but he made only one of two free throws with 1:20 remaining. UNK's Clayton Moore drove in for a layup to give the Lopers a three-point lead at 70-67 with 1:01 left. Marcus Glock sank two free throws with :49.8 left to cut the lead to one, but Northwest would not score again. UNK recorded a pair of made field goal in the final :23 to top the Bearcats, 74-69.
 
UNK bounced out to an 8-0 advantage two and a half minutes into the contest. Luke Moustakas buried two three-pointers to pull Northwest to within 10-8 with 15:27 left in the half. The Lopers closed the opening half on a 14-4 spurt to take a 37-24 advantage to the locker room.
 
Glock and Moustakas tied for team-high scoring honors with 16 points against the Lopers. Glock went 5-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-7 on three-pointers. Moustakas went 6-of-13 from the floor and he sank a trio of three-pointers. Byron Alexander grabbed a team-best 11 rebounds. Trey Moala dished out five assists.
 
The Bearcats will be back in action Saturday at 4 p.m. at Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan.
 
NOTES: Northwest dropped to 3-3 in road games this season … Northwest holds 16-3 lead in the all-time series … it is the first time that UNK has swept a season series against Northwest in MIAA play … Marcus Glock has made at least one three-pointer in 10 straight games … Glock tied his career-high with four made three-pointers … Alexander tied his career-high with 11 rebounds … it is the third time this season Moustakas has made at least three three-pointers in a game … Northwest drained nine three-pointers … UNK was held to 6-of-20 from three-point land (30.0%) … Northwest committed 10 turnovers, while forcing UNK into seven miscues ... Byron Alexander played in his 139th career game, tying him with Trevor Hudgins for No. 3 all-time in Bearcat history ... Alexander is the NCAA Div. II active career leader in games played.