Box Score
Bolivar, Mo. – The Men's Basketball team defeated Nebraska-Kearney Thursday evening, 78-76 on a last second shot from Chris Rossow. With the win, SBU improves to 8-4 (2-1 MIAA) on the year.
 
Godfrey Rolle got things rolling with a three pointer to start the game. Kearney answered back with two three pointers of their own, but Quinn Nelson evened the game as he drained a jumper from behind the arch. The teams took turns with the lead, but with 13:53 left in the first half, SBU held the lead for a while. Layups from Tyler Williams and Damian Prgomet gave the Bearcats a 5 point lead.
 
With 10:28, the Lopers evened the score at 20, but Damian Prgomet quickly gave SBU the lead again. The Lopers went on a run, regaining the lead and extending it to 14 points with a little over 5 minutes to go in the half. A couple Chris Rossow free throws followed by a steal leading to a massive dunk by Karim Mouliom cut UNK's lead down to 10. The teams battled hard to the end of the half, Nebraska-Kearney holding onto a 45-39 lead.
 
The visitors scored the first points of the second half on an early layup, but Karim Mouliom answered back with two free throw makes. A couple more Mouliom free throws, a three pointer from Rossow, a layup from Rolle, and two Prgomet free throws brought SBU within 1 as 15:27 remained in the game. The Lopers hit a three after the free throws, but Quinn Nelson answered back with a three of his own to tie the game at 54. UNK regained the lead and pushed it to 5, but an acrobatic layup from Maris Colton cut the lead back to three. After a free throw make by Prgomet, Maris Colton scored the next 5 points, giving SBU a 2 point lead. Quinn Nelson extended that lead with two free throws.
 
The teams battled back and forth, creating several tie scores and lead switches. With 3:33 left, Godfrey Rolle pushed the SBU lead to 4 with a three pointer. UNK then drained two free throws, followed by a layup to even the score at 76 a piece. After an SBU miss and rebound by Kearney with 17 seconds left, the Lopers turned the ball over with 11 seconds left. Chris Rossow drove the court, pulling up at the free throw line and draining the go ahead shot with just 6 seconds left. Solid defense kept the Lopers out of the basket, allowing the Bearcats to hold onto a 78-76 score for the win.
 
Chris Rossow led SBU in points, scoring 23, one of those being the game winner. Karim Mouliom and Damian Prgomet were both just two rebounds from double-doubles. Mouliom scored 15 and Prgomet scored 10, each with an assist. Godfrey Rolle was the other Bearcat in double digits, scoring 13.
 
SBU continues their MIAA action, taking on FHSU on Saturday, January 5^th at 3:30 PM in Bolivar.