KEARNEY, Neb. – Jared Vitztum scored 26 of his career-high 29 points in the second half but it wasn’t enough as Fort Hays State’s second half comeback bid fell short in an 84-80 loss to Nebraska-Kearney Saturday afternoon at the Health and Sports Center.
The Tigers start the season 0-3 for the first time since 1922 with the three losses by a combined eight points.
UNK (1-2) used a 22-4 first half run to build an 18-point lead midway through the first half. They pushed that lead to 21 with a little over 11 minutes to play in the second half when Vitztum scored all 19 points of a 19-7 Tiger run to cut the deficit to nine.
FHSU got within seven but the Lopers got a couple of key three-pointers from Matt Brien during a 12-5 run which pushed the lead back to 14 with just under three minutes left.
Quinten Rock knocked down three 3-pointers in a 19-8 FHSU run that cut the lead with three with three seconds to play.
Vitztum went 8-for-9 from the floor in the second half. He also pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds for his second straight double-double.
Rock added 15 points.
The Lopers were led by Jake Walker who scored 20, 15 of them in the first half. Brien added 16 and Darien Nebeker 12.