Tuesday Morning Sports – Bearcats Win Kansas Doubleheader, UNK Men Fall in Double OT, Nebraska Women Face Michigan, Sooners QB in Portal, Local Sports Schedule

KEARNEY BASKETBALL WINS DOUBLE-HEADER IN KANSAS:

The Kearney High boys and girls basketball teams were able to escape the four hour drive to Garden City, Kansas on Monday night with wins over the Buffaloes. 

The Kearney Girls won their sixth game of the season in a 36-21 win. 

The Bearcat Boys clawed out of a first quarter deficit and held off second quarter rallies to dominate Garden City in a 82-54 win. The win gives Kearney a 5-4 mark on the season.

Both teams are off until Thursday when Kearney travels to North Platte.

UNK MEN FALL TO NORTHEASTERN STATE IN DOUBLE OVERTIME HEARTBREAK:

Six players reached double figures and Northeastern State finished on a 7-0 run to down Nebraska-Kearney in double overtime, 97-90, Monday evening in Tahlequah, Okla.

The RiverHawks, who had lost seven straight to UNK at home, improve to 8-5 (3-4) and to 5-1 in Tahlequah. UNK falls to 5-8 (1-6) which includes four setbacks by 11 points or less.

The Lopers, playing its first double OT game since the famed 2003 NCAA Central Regional final win over Metro State, was poised to steal one as it led 70-67 with 21 seconds left in regulation. UNK rallied from deficits of 78-72 and 80-74 in the first OT to force another five minutes.

The Lopers host Lincoln (1-10, 0-6) and Central Missouri (6-4, 3-3) this weekend.

NEBRASKA WOMEN WANT BACK TO WINNING WAYS AGAINST MICHIGAN:

The Nebraska women’s basketball team tips off Big Ten Conference home action when the Huskers play host to No. 8/7 Michigan on Tuesday night in Lincoln.

The game between the Huskers (12-1, 1-1 Big Ten) and the Wolverines (12-1, 3-0 Big Ten) is set for 8 p.m. (CT) at Pinnacle Bank Arena

The Huskers will look to rebound from their first loss of the season after suffering a 72-69 setback at Michigan State (Dec. 30). Sam Haiby led Nebraska with a season-high 19 points and a career-high six steals, but the Huskers suffered through one of their worst shooting days of the season.

No. 9/7 Michigan comes to Lincoln Tuesday with a 12-1 record that includes a 3-0 Big Ten mark. The Wolverines are coming off a 90-71 pounding of No. 25 Ohio State in Ann Arbor (Dec. 31).

Pregame on KGFW begins from the Husker Radio Network at 7:45 PM with Matt Coatney on the call. 

TRANSFER PORTAL RIPPLE EFFECTS: OU’s WILLIAMS ENTERS PORTAL

Oklahoma Freshman quarterback Caleb Williams announced he has entered his name into the transfer portal. The former five-star prospect supplanted the incumbent Spencer Rattler in the mid-season, guiding the Sooners to an Alamo Bowl win over Oregon. 

The quarterback has not ruled out a return to Oklahoma, however a late addition by former UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel may make a sticky situation. 

HUSKER FOOTBALL HAS VISIT SET FOR PORTAL QB PURDY

Nebraska Football has set an official visit for transfer portal quarterback and former Florida State signal caller Chubba Purdy. 

The official visit date is set for the weekend of January 14. Purdy has already received an offer from the Huskers. 

NEBRASKA MEN CANNOT OUTLAST BUCKEYES IN OVERTIME:

Nebraska men’s basketball started the new year by going toe-to-toe with 13th-ranked Ohio State for 40 minutes, but the Buckeyes forced overtime and things quickly turned ugly for the Huskers, who fell 87-79 Sunday night at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Junior Derrick Walker did it all for the Big Red, double-doubling with 15 points and 10 rebounds along with swiping a game-best and career-high four steals

The Huskers tied the game five separate times before finally taking the lead at 63-62 with 6:39 remaining. The Buckeyes made quick work of NU over the final five minutes of overtime, burying their first three 3-pointers and going 4-5 overall and 4-4 from the line.

The Huskers hit the road for their next game, meeting No. 10 Michigan State in East Lansing on Wednesday night.

HUSKER MEN’S BASKETBALL POSTGAME COMMENTS:

HOIBERG – A LOT OF POSITIVES TO BUILD ON

Nebraska Men’s Basketball Head Coach Fred Hoiberg began his post-game press conference on an uplifting note after an overtime loss to Top 15 ranked Ohio State… 

Hoiberg continued saying it is the best his team has played in their previous losing streak. The Huskers return to action on Wednesday traveling to East Lansing to take on No. 10 Michigan State. 

HOIBERG – EFFORT IS THERE, MUST CLEAN UP ISSUES TO WIN

Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska Men’s Basketball coach, spoke at his post-game press conference on Sunday night after the overtime loss to Ohio State and added that if his team can fix some early mistakes, they will be able to compete with anyone… 

The Huskers will have another opportunity to take down a Top 15 opponent on Wednesday, traveling to Michigan State to take on No. 10 Sparty.

HOIBERG – PLENTY OF REASONS FOR LOSS TO BUCKEYES

Nebraska Men’s Basketball Head Coach Fred Hoiberg was asked if free throws were the deciding factor in the loss to the Top 15 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes in overtime on Sunday… 

The Huskers were 17-23 from the free throw line Sunday, and are 73% as a team from the charity stripe on the year. 

HUSKERS NAB O-LINE TRANSFER:

Oklahoma State graduate transfer offensive lineman Hunter Anthony took an official visit to Nebraska last year and committed to the Huskers over the weekend.

Anthony gives Nebraska a needed boost on the offensive line by adding a seasoned tackle to their roster.

Anthony delayed his decision to announce until after Oklahoma State’s win over Notre Dame in Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 so it would not interfere with the team’s bowl preparation.

Anthony will have two years of eligibility remaining. Counting special teams, Anthony saw 124 snaps of action at OSU in 2024.

NFL SCORES:

Monday:

Pittsburgh Steelers 26 – 14 Cleveland Browns

FORMER HUSKER ASSISTANT FINDS NEW GIG IN FLORIDA:

Former Nebraska offensive line coach Greg Austin confirmed Sunday that he will take a new job at Florida International.

Austin will be the offensive line coach for the Panthers, who recently hired former Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre as their new head coach.

Austin had spent most of the last six seasons working for Scott Frost, who fired Austin, along with three other Husker offensive assistants, in early November. Since then, former NU running backs coach Ryan Held has taken an offensive coordinator job at North Alabama.

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

MONDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Garden City HS (KS)
    • KHS 36-21
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Garden City HS (KS)
    • KHS 82-54

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a

• UNK:
  • MENS BASKETBALL: @ Northeastern State
    • NSU 97-90

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

TUESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Minden – 5:30 PM
  • WRESTLING: @ Central City

• UNK:
  • N/a

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
• • N/a

WEDNESDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a

• UNK:
  • N/a

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ North Platte – 5 PM
    • Pregame on KGFW at 4:45 PM; Listen on 96.1 FM, 1340 AM, KGFW App, and at KGFW.com
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: @ North Platte – 6:45 PM
    • Pregame on KGFW at 6:30 PM; Listen on 96.1 FM, 1340 AM, KGFW App, and at KGFW.com
  • WRESTLING: Dual @ Lincoln East – 7 PM

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a

• UNK:
  • WRESTLING: @ Louisville, KY
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Lincoln @ Health & Sports Center – 5:30 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: v. Lincoln @ Health & Sports Center – 7:30 PM

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
• • N/a

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • WRESTLING: @ Lincoln North Star Invite – 3 PM
  • SWIMMING & DIVING: @ Scottsbluff Dual – 4 PM
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Lincoln Southeast – 7:30 PM
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: v. Lincoln Southeast – 7:45 PM
    • Pregame on KGFW at 7:30 PM; Listen on 96.1 FM, 1340 AM, KGFW App, and at KGFW.com

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • WRESTLING: @ High Plains Invite
  • SWIMMING & DIVING: @ Scottsbluff Dual – 4 PM
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: @ Grand Island Central Catholic
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: @ Grand Island Central Catholic

• UNK:
  • WRESTLING: @ Louisville, KY
  • WOMENS SWIMMING: @ Pueblo, CO

• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ Dordt University – 5 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: @ Dordt University – 7 PM
  • MENS WRESTLING: Hastings Duals

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • SWIMMING & DIVING: Kearney Invite – 8:30 AM
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: Nebraska Girls Basketball Showcase
    • Kearney v. York @ Kearney High School – 8:30 PM
      • Pregame on KGFW at 8:15 PM; Listen on 96.1 FM, 1340 AM, KGFW App, and at KGFW.com

• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • WRESTLING: @ High Plains Invite
  • SWIMMING & DIVING: Kearney Invite – 8:30 AM
  • GIRLS BASKETBALL: v. North Platte
  • BOYS BASKETBALL: v. North Platte

• UNK:
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: v. Central Missouri @ Health & Sports Center – 2 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: v. Central Missouri @ Health & Sports Center – 4 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • MENS WRESTLING: Hastings Invite
  • T&F: Hastings Indoor
  • WOMENS BASKETBALL: @ No. 13 Northwestern College – 2 PM
  • MENS BASKETBALL: @ Northwestern College – 4 PM