Thursday Afternoon Sports – Former Husker Lee Joins Loper Staff, Husker Men Drop Ohio State, Nebraska Women Push Past Purdue, Loper Basketball Splits with Emporia, Local Sports Postponements

FORMER HUSKER ERIC LEE JOINS LOPER FOOTBALL STAFF:

Nebraska Kearney head football coach Ryan Held announced today that Eric Lee Jr. will serve as a graduate assistant coach and work with the Loper secondary.

The former ‘Husker defensive back most recently was the Head of Football Operations at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif. Serving as UNL Football Camp instructor during his playing days, Lee Jr. worked in the private sector after graduation.

Lee Jr. spent five years (2015-19) at Nebraska, redshirting as a freshman and then appearing in 38 games over the next four seasons. He finished his career with 65 tackles (39 solo), two interceptions for 38 yards and one touchdown, five pass breakups and a blocked kick.

HUSKER MEN OVERCOME OFFICIALS, BUCKEYS FOR HOME WIN:

Sam Griesel scored 10 of his game-high 15 points in the second half, as Nebraska used a balanced attack and held Ohio State to 36 percent shooting in a 63-60 victory Wednesday evening at Pinnacle Bank Arena. 

While Griesel kept the Huskers (10-9, 3-5 Big Ten) within striking distance early, it was some unsung heroes that gave Nebraska a hard-fought win. 

The Huskers trailed 49-47 with 8:55 remaining before Denim Dawson’s basket keyed a decisive 8-0 run for the hosts.

The Huskers held OSU (10-8, 2-5) without a field goal for over six and half minutes down the stretch and hit just enough free throws in the final two minutes to earn a second straight win over the Buckeyes. 

Nebraska travels to University Park to take on the Penn State Nittany Lions on Jan. 21.

NEBRASKA WOMEN RALLY FOR ROAD WIN AT PURDUE:

Alexis Markowski dominated the fourth quarter on her way to a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds to power Nebraska to a 71-64 come-from-behind Big Ten women’s basketball win over Purdue at Mackey Arena on Wednesday.

Markowski, who scored 11 of her team-high 19 points and added six rebounds in the fourth quarter alone, fueled a 23-8 surge by the Big Red in the final period that helped Nebraska improve to 12-7 overall and 4-4 in the conference. Purdue slipped to 12-6 overall and 3-5 in the league.

Maddie Krull, who did not start for the first time in the past 11 games because of illness, came off the bench to pour in 15 points while adding three rebounds and a pair of steals.

The Huskers return to Big Ten home action on Sunday when they take on No. 11 Maryland. Tip-off between the Big Red and the Terrapins is set for 1 p.m.

LOPER BASKETBALL WOMEN REMAIN UNBLEMISHED IN KANSAS:

Super senior forward Elisa Backes scored 21 points and No. 16 Nebraska Kearney shot as season-high 56 percent from the field to fly past Emporia State, 86-54, Wednesday night in Kansas.

The Lopers (17-3, 10-2) win a fourth in a row and notch its 16th all-time victory over the struggling Hornets (9-9, 4-8). 

The 86 points is a season-high for the Blue & Gold with the 32-point margin of victory the third highest this winter.

UNK is at Washburn (7-9, 3-7) on Saturday afternoon. 

UNK MEN DROP EMPORIA CONTEST:

The 24th-ranked Emporia State Hornets got a career-high 28 points from 6-7 guard Alijah Comithier and used a second half run to down Nebraska Kearney, 72-59.

The Hornets (15-3, 9-3) win a fifth straight game and improve to 7-1 at home against the Lopers (3-14, 1-10) since 2012.

UNK heads to Washburn Saturday at 3 p.m. The Ichabods (7-9, 4-6) upset Fort Hays State tonight, 74-64.

GARY TO MISS REMAINDER OF SEASON FOR HUSKER HOOPS:

Nebraska men’s basketball coach Fred Hoiberg announced Wednesday evening that Juwan Gary will have left shoulder surgery and miss the remainder of the 2022-23 season.

Gary, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound forward, suffered the injury in the first half of Nebraska’s game with Illinois on Jan. 10. An MRI revealed last week the extent of the injury, and after meeting with a shoulder specialist earlier on Wednesday, it was determined that undergoing surgery was the best course of action.  Gary will undergo shoulder surgery next week.

Gary started all 17 games in his first season after transferring from Alabama and averaged 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and a team-high 1.4 steals per game. 

HUSKER SOFTBALL ANNOUNCES 2023 CAPTAINS:

The Nebraska softball team named its captains for the 2023 season, Head Coach Rhonda Revelle announced on Tuesday. Seniors Courtney Wallace and Mya Felder and junior Abbie Squier will all serve as captains for the upcoming season. 

The Huskers 2023 season is set to begin at the Houston Invitational. The first game is set for Friday, Feb. 10, at 10 a.m. against Lamar. 

Local Results & Schedules:

THIS WEEK IN LOCAL SPORTS:

WEDNESDAY:

• UNK:
  • Women’s Basketball: @ Emporia State
    • UNK 86-54 ESU
  • Men’s Basketball: @ Emporia State
    • ESU 72-59 UNK

THURSDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Swimming & Diving: Norfolk Dual @ Kearney High School – POSTPONED
  • Wrestling: @ Columbus Dual – POSTPONED
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Swimming & Diving: Norfolk Dual @ Kearney High School – POSTPONED
  • Girls Basketball: @ Aurora – POSTPONED
  • Boys Basketball: @ Aurora – POSTPONED
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Sports Nightly (6 PM – 8 PM)

FRIDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Girls Basketball: v. Norfolk @ Kearney High School – 6 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at 5:45 PM
  • Boys Basketball: v. Norfolk @ Kearney High School – 7:45 PM
    • KGFW Pregame at conclusion of KHS GBB
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • Men’s Wrestling: @ Missouri Valley Invite @ Marshall, MO – 9 AM
  • Women’s Basketball: v. Dakota Wesleyan @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 5 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: v. Dakota Wesleyan @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 6:45 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Kearney High Girls Basketball v. Norfolk (5:45 PM – 7:45 PM)
  • Kearney High Boys Basketball v. Norfolk (7:45 PM – 9:45 PM)

SATURDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • Swimming & Diving: @ Ralston Dive Invite – 9 AM
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • Swimming & Diving: @ Ralston Dive Invite – 9 AM
  • Wrestling: @ Centennial Conference – 10 AM
  • Girls Basketball: v. Aquinas – 1:30 PM
  • Boys Basketball: v. Aquinas – 3:30 PM
• UNK:
  • Wrestling: v. Northern State – 9 AM
  • Wrestling: v. Western Colorado – 10:30 AM
  • Wrestling: v. Adams State – 12 PM
  • M/W T&F: @ NW Missouri State Open – 12 PM
  • Women’s Basketball: @ Washburn – 1:30 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: @ Washburn – 3:30 PM
• HASTINGS COLLEGE: 
  • M/W T&F: @ Polar Dog Invite @ Concordia – 10 AM / 1 PM
  • Men’s Wrestling: @ Missouri Valley Invite @ Marshall, MO – 9 AM
  • Women’s Basketball: v. Jamestown @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 1 PM
  • Men’s Basketball: v. Jamestown @ Lynn Farrell Arena – 2:45 PM
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Men’s Basketball @ Penn State (12:15 PM – 4 PM)

SUNDAY:

• KEARNEY HIGH:
  • N/a
• KEARNEY CATHOLIC:
  • N/a
• UNK:
  • N/a
• HASTINGS COLLEGE:
  • N/a
• KGFW Sports Schedule:
  • Nebraska Women’s Basketball v. Maryland (12:45 PM – 4 PM)